Bangor, ME – For the first time this season the Pine Tree State-bred 2-year-old male pacers ventured away from Cumberland and found themselves under the bright lights of Bangor Raceway’s Fair meet on Wednesday (August 5) for three $15,000 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes.
The first $14,978 division saw a typical wire-to-wire circuit by The Gucci Man and Kevin Switzer Jr., resulting in the colt’s third consecutive victory.
Setting moderate early fractions of :31.1 and 1:02.3, the son of Dude’s The Man was able to gain separation after a 1:32.1 third panel and win by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1, under the twilight of the early evening program.
Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif, the 1-9 heavy favorite returned $2.20 while posting a :29.0 final quarter. With place and show wagering suspended for the event, Painter’s Treasure (6-1, Andy Harrington, finished second; Duderrific (Heath Campbell) was third.
In the second $15,153 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, it was another wire-to-wire triumph for Top Notch Treasure who completed the circuit in 2:01, the fastest of the evening’s divisions.
Driver Mike Stevenson worked to get the front with the 6-5 second choice and then set strategic fractions of :29.1, and 1:02.1 to the half with Rustysonlytreasure (Aaron Hall) sitting in the pocket, followed by 1-2 favorite Harriman (Nick Graffam) who regained his composure following a rough gaited spell into the first turn.
Harriman was tipped back out first over heading to the half and ducked back into the loose pocket left open by Rustysonlytreasure. Heading into the 1:32.1 third panel, Hall pulled the right line on Rustysonlytreasure to engage the leader, only to be relegated back to third around the final turn.
Stevenson popped the earplugs at the head of the stretch and the son of State Treasurer responded with a :28.4 final quarter, keeping a squirrely gaited Harriman at bay by a measured half length.
Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Steven Moskowitz Racing, he was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and returned $4.40 for his third consecutive triumph.
Rustysonlytreasure was third.
In the third and final $15,154 division Dudeisadelight picked up his maiden victory, scoring in 2:01.4, in wire-to-wire fashion.
Co-owner and driver Ron Cushing sent the son of Dude’s The Man right to the front and never looked back as they sailed through well-rated fractions of :30.4 and 1:01.4. Past the half Justcallmebuddy (Aaron Hall) applied pressure first over and through the 1:32.1 third panel, but was ultimately thwarted as Cushing let the pacer roll down the stretch to a 2:01.4 score.
Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, S. Downey, A. & J Romanelli, he returned $2.80. Bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, he picked up his first lifetime win and a new record.
South St Justin (Nick Graffam) was placed second; Justcallmebuddy finished second, but was placed third for a pylon violation at the half.
Looking ahead, Maine’s popular Fair season rolls into the Topsham Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Monday (Aug. 9), the sophomore male pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 10), and all the 2- and 3- year-old trotters on Thursday (Aug. 12).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com.