Skowhegan, ME – Maine’s glamour boys division rolled headstrong into the Skowhegan State Fair on Tuesday (Aug. 18) with the set’s swift 3-year-old male pacers enjoying a purse increase to kick off the evening program.
In the first $17,209 Maine Sire Stake race, which was held before the regular card, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. sent Real Horrorshow right out to the front, where the son of Dude’s The Man likes to be.
Setting early fractions of :29.3 and 1:00.3 in the early going, while Rebel’s Revenge (Aaron Hall) sat tight in the pocket. Sitting third past the half, Joey Mosher urged Dude’s The Jet first over as they passed the third panel in 1:29.4.
With the outer flow stalling, Andrew Harrington pushed Itsjustmoney into third position at the head of the stretch as Rebel’s Revenge tried to reel in Real Horrorshow. With an assertive :28.2 final quarter, the pacesetter went on to win his second in a row by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1.
Capturing his fifth win of the season, and 14th of his career, Real Horrorshow, increased his lifetime earnings to $146,220. Trained by the senior Kevin Switzer, who also co-owns with Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., he was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum.
Rebel’s Revenge finished second; Itsjustmoney was third.
In the second $17,209 division for sophomore male pacers, another non-wagering event, the terms were dictated by Daytoremember, who also decisively won his last start at Topsham.
Driver Heath Campbell sent Daytoremember out for an early lead from post four, setting primary fractions of :30.2 and 1:00.4 over the first circuit. Deuces Red (Mike Stevenson) stuck to the pacesetter like glue as the pair hit the third station in 1:29.3, while Nuh Uh (Andy Harrington) were first over and gained ground down the backstretch for the final time.
Once again the outer flow had failed to advance around the final turn as Campbell had Daytoremember in overdrive, they sped home in a 28-second final quarter, stopping the timer in 1:57.3.
The son of Dude’s The Man is owned, trained and was bred by Valerie Grondin, and picked up his fifth consecutive win, and sixth of the season while breaking into the six figures with lifetime earnings of $101,878. Daytoremember continues to lead Real Horrorshow by 25 points in the divisional standings.
Deuces Red finished second; Silence Ofdarkness got up for third.
Looking ahead, the harness racing action continues at Skowhegan on Wednesday (Aug. 19) with the sophomore distaff pacers, followed by all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Thursday (Aug. 20). The freshmen sidesteppers close out the week-long meet with the 2-year-old pacing fillies on Friday (Aug. 21) and their male counterparts on Saturday (Aug. 22).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com.