Cumberland, ME – On the final day of the Cumberland meet the Pine Tree State’s entire group of 2- and 3-year-old trotters helped close out the season on Sunday (August 2) at the iconic Southern Maine oval, with many of the series’ familiar faces increasing their leads in the point standings. Among the group of sophomore distaff trotters is the current Belle of the Ball, Hayden, who has won four of her five seasonal outings.
One of four $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on the track’s finale program, the 3-year-old filly trot was carded as race nine, and once again, Hayden was made the prohibitive public choice at 1-9.
Trainer-driver Gary Hall left swiftly from post two with the daughter of Cantab Fashion and set a moderate :30.1 opening panel, with Our Last Quote (Mike Cushing) grabbing the pocket trip behind the favorite. Before the nicely rated 1:02.1 half John Nason pulled I Think I Can from third to challenge for the lead and push the tempo.
And increase the tempo she did, as the field entered the backstretch for the final time Hayden started to gain some separation as her gait hastened toward the 1:32.2 third panel. With I Think I Can stalling on the rim Race Me Boomer and Andy Harrington shot up the pegs to improve their position.
Well in hand, Hayden drew off by 4-1/2 lengths to score in 2:02.1.
Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, it was the fourth seasonal victory for Hayden. She returned $2.20 for the sixth win of her career, increasing her lifetime earnings to $77,903.
Our Last Quote was second; Race Me Boomer finished third in the $15,486 event.
Earlier on the card the $15,210 Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts witnessed the Watson’s U Know I Know continue to dominate the division with another wire-to-wire triumph.
Ken Watson drove the son of Whataworkout to another record-lowering win in 2:05.3, prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths over Pembroke Zagursky (Heath Campbell).
Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder Barbara Lawson, he returned $3.20 for his third win in a row. Stable mate Race Me Bruno (Wally Watson) finished third.
Earlier in the day, before the pari-mutuel card, Gus’s Workout took his $14,783 division for 3-year-old male trotters.
Last week’s victor, Wilder N Idy (Mark Athearn), jumped before the start giving driver Heath Campbell an easy lift to the front with Gus’s Workout. The son of Whataworkout set fractions of :30.1 and 1:00.4 while maintaining a two-to-three length advantage. By the third panel in 1:30.1 Wilder N Idy had caught up with the field and was parked second behind the pacesetter a few measures.
Down the lane Gus’s Workout had plenty of trot and was able to keep any threats at bay, drawing off by 4-1/4 lengths en route to a new 2:00 lifetime mark.
Trained by Valerie Groundin, he is owned and was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.
Trottinfortreasure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
In the second $14,681 early Maine Sire Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies it was another one-two punch by the Gary Hall stable where Princess Caledonia (Gary Hall) evened the score with last week’s victor Mikella Bella (Heath Campbell) to get the win in 2:04.4.
Co-owned, trained and driven by Gary Hall, the daughter of To The Hilt picked up her second seasonal win by five lengths. Also owned by James Kelly Jr., Betsey Kelley and Kristina Hall, she was bred by Anita Anastosopoulos.
Cape Cod Friday (Dave Ingraham) was third.
Looking ahead, as the early pari-mutuel season comes to an end, the Maine Sire Stakes action continues at the Bangor Fair with the 2-year-old colt pacers on Wednesday (Aug. 5). Then, the big top and the midway are the new normal as Maine’s popular Fair season gets into full swing at Topsham with 3-year-old filly pacers on Monday (Aug. 9) and the sophomore male pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 10).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com