Windsor, ME – It was déjà vu all over again as Maine’s top 3-year-old pacing fillies, Snowonthepines and Just Delightful, repeated their dominance on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 7), the final day of the Windsor Fair.
A week ago, harness racing fans and fairgoers witnessed both fillies take their two $17,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes divisions in grand fashion, and seven days later it was much of the same.
With the first $16,984 division carded as an early, non-wagering race, Just Delightful drew into her own division, and made quick work of the competition.
Co-owning driver Ron Cushing hastily grabbed the top and rolled to a :28.2 opening panel. With a :58.4 breather going to the half, the daughter of Western Maverick had Dudelookslikeafily (driven by Aaron Hall) sitting in a tight pocket through the 1:28.1 third panel.
Around the final turn and through the stretch, Cushing gave Just Delightful her head and the filly responded by leaving the rest of the field in her wake, drawing off by 8-3/4 lengths to score in 1:58.
Trained by Heidi Cushing for owners Ron Cushing, Stephen Downey, Anthony Romanelli and Joseph Romanelli, it was Just Delightful’s fourth lifetime victory, with her earnings now at $96,907. Bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, she has nine second place finishes in 17 career outings.
Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Dudelookslikeafily was third.
In the second $17,209 division for sophomore distaff pacers, also held before the regular card, it was another wire-to-wire romp for divisional standout
Snowonthepines.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. posted moderate early fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.4 with Heath Campbell and Heymickeyyousofine stuck to his helmet into a 1:30.4 third panel.
The pacesetting duo rolled on to victory as they usually do, with nary a care in the world. Stopping the clock at 1:59.4, it was the filly’s ninth consecutive seasonal victory, and 18th of her career.
Last season, Snowonthepines was victorious in all nine of her 2-year-old outings, and now has $170,929 in lifetime earnings for trainer Marc Tardif and owner-breeder Leighton Property.
Heymickeyyousofine finished second by 1-1/2 lengths; Ekorus (Joey Mosher) was third.
The Pine Tree State-bred series moves to Bangor for the next few weeks, starting with all of the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Wednesday (Sept. 9), followed by the freshman male pacers on Saturday (Sept. 12).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to MaineSireStakes.com.