Bangor, ME – Three $17,000-plus divisions of freshmen male pacers rolled into Bangor Raceway Saturday (Sept. 12) for the Maine Sire Stakes with one previously unbeaten colt being tested and ultimately finishing second.
The swiftest $17,328 Pine Tree State-bred event took place before the regular card at historic Bass Park, and pitted the top point earner and heretofore undefeated colt The Gucci Man against standings runner up Top Notch Treasure.
When the wings folded veteran reinsman Bruce Ranger sent the inside positioned Top Notch Treasure right to the top in a swift :28.4 opening quarter, with The Gucci Man (Kevin Switzer Jr.) forced into the pocket from post six, while the pacesetter had already established a four-length lead.
The tempo was reduced to :59.2 as the field passed the midway marker. Shortly thereafter Switzer Jr. took his shot with The Gucci Man, and while parked managed to get within a half length of the leader as they hit the third station in 1:28.4. However, that attack was short-lived as Top Notch Treasure found another gear and sprinted home to win by three lengths in 1:57.4, just a fifth of a second off the track record.
Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Steve Moskowitz Racing, the son of State Treasurer is also Maine bred on the dam’s side. From the Western Maverick mare Pembroke Perfect, he was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe. Picking up his fifth win of the season, and a new lifetime mark, his earnings now exceed $44,000.
The Gucci Man finished second; Justcallmebuddy (Aaron Hall) was third.
In the other $17,153 early Maine Sire Stakes for male freshmen pacers, it was One Last Deal who made it two-in-a-row with a wire-to-wire romp from post five.
Clearing handily from the outside and hitting the first panel in :30, the son of Dude’s The Man was sent through middle splits of 1:01.2 and 1:29.3 by Andy Harrington, with no real pressure mounting. However at the head of the stretch Duderrific (Dave Ingraham), who had been parked since the half, got to the pacesetter’s saddle pad.
With pressure mounting Harrington let his charge have his head and the pair rolled home to score by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:59, a new lifetime best.
Owned, trained and bred by Mark Tardif, it was the colt’s second win of the season.
Stable mate Rustysonlytreasure (Aaron Hall) rallied for second; Duderrific faded to third.
In the final $17,329 rookie pace, which was held on the betting card, nothing was as it seemed.
When the wings folded 4-5 co-favorite Agent James Bond and Switzer Jr. took the lead, however, something appeared amiss with the winless colt as he continued to throw steps in as he led the field to the opening panel in :31.
Poocham Luck (Dave Ingraham) sat a cautious pocket while the pacesetter took the pack down to the half in 1:01.3, prompting Mike Cushing to tip Two Bolts to the outside to engage the leaders. Joey Mosher picked up that cover with Harriman as they rolled through the third turn.
Down the backstretch into 1:32.2 third station Harriman tipped three wide to go around a rough gaited Agent James Bond while Two Bolts and Poocham Luck were forced to check their charges.
Harriman had swooped the traffic jam but around the turn driver Joey Mosher lost his colt and went on an extended break. That allowed Agent James Bond to retake command at the head of the lane.
Despite his squirrely nature, Agent James Bond did cross the wire first, however, following a lengthy inquiry was taken down and placed last for interference.
Poocham Luck crossed the wire second and was thus declared the official winner in 2:03.1. Driven by “Double Digit” Dave Ingraham, the son of State Treasurer paid a whopping $42.00. Trained by Mike Graffam for owner-breeder G. Austin, it was his first lifetime victory in five outings. 4-5 co-favorite Harriman was third placed second.
Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes action resumes at Bangor with the 2-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday (Sept. 13), followed by the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings who return to historic Bass Park on Wednesday (Sept. 16). Following that race the series transitions back to the Fairs with a week of action at Farmington starting with the 3-year-old filly pacers on Monday (Sept. 21).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com