Windsor, ME – It was just another walk in the park for 3-year-old pacing sensation Snowonthepines as Maine’s unbeaten filly continued to put on a show for her fans and connections alike. With her unblemished record intact at the Windsor Fair, fairgoers on Monday (Aug. 31) witnessed two $17,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes divisions highlighted by the Marc Tardif-trainee picking up her 17th consecutive victory.
With the first $17,2109 division carded as an early, non-wagering race, Snowonthepines went right to the top, but so did the upstart Heymickeyyousofine.
While Kevin Switzer Jr. relinquished his seat on the engine to Heath Campbell momentarily, that spot was short-lived as the top filly was right back out and rolling for a retake.
Following the brief give-and-go, Switzer Jr. posted moderate early fractions of :29.1 and 1:01 with no right lines being pulled. Heath Campbell and Heymickeyyousofine sat a tight pocket trip through the 1:30.3 third station, with the rest of the field fading from contention.
As the lead pair rolled down the stretch Switzer Jr. never had an anxious moment, as they tripped the timer in 1:59.2 for the filly’s eighth consecutive seasonal victory.
Snowonthepines won all nine of her races as a rookie and now has $162,325 in lifetime earnings for trainer Marc Tardif and owner-breeder Leighton Property.
Heymickeyyousofine finished second by 1-1/2 lengths; Graceofspades (driven by Dave Ingraham) was third.
In the other $17,434 division, which was held on the regular program, Just Delightful was finally able to get out from under the divisional leader’s shadow, having finished second to Snowonthepines in her four previous outings.
Co-owning driver Ron Cushing wasted little time moving his charge to the top, establishing a three-length lead by the time they hit the opening panel in a snappy :28.3. While reducing the tempo into a :59.1 midway point, the daughter of Western Maverick was on cruise control with Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) sitting in the pocket through the 1:29 third panel.
With nothing but air and opportunity in front of her, Just Delightful hit her best stride down the Windsor homestretch with a :28.4 final quarter, leaving her rivals in a 5-1/2-length wake to score in 1:57.4, a new lifetime best.
Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, Stephen Downey, Anthony Romanelli and Joseph Romanelli, it was Just Delightful’s third lifetime victory, with her earnings now at $88,415. Bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, she has nine second-place finishes in 16 career outings and returned $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite.
Dudelookslikeafily finished second; Ekorus (Andy Harrington) was third.
Looking ahead, the harness racing action continues at Windsor Fair on Tuesday (Sept. 1) with all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters. The freshman sidesteppers hit town with the 2-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 3) and their female counterparts on Friday (Sept. 4).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to MaineSireStakes.com.