Fryeburg, ME – Maine’s previously unbeaten 3-year-old pacing filly Snowonthepines finally tasted defeat on Thursday (Oct. 8), at the Fryeburg Fair, falling from grace by a whisker to Graceofspades.
It happened on an otherwise normal fair racing day in the first $17,209 division for sophomore distaff pacers, held before the regular card.
Snowonthepines, with her 20-race win streak on the line, was sent to the top in the traditional manner by regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. Posting moderate early fractions of :30 and 1:01.4, the daughter of Dude’s The Man had Ekorus (driven by Joey Mosher) in the pocket behind her with Graceofspades and Dave Ingraham sitting in third.
Moving into the 1:33 third panel, Ingraham sent the daughter of Western Maverick first-over and sprinted up alongside the pacesetter, and as the pair turned for home they were eye to eye, and wheel to wheel.
The battle ensued down the length of the stretch with Graceofspades posting a faster :28.1 final quarter to prevail by a nose in 2:01.2 over Snowonthepines.
Bred, owned and trained by Fred Ward Jr. and Sharon Ward, it was the filly’s first lifetime victory, and a new lifetime-best time badge. A full sister to former Maine champion Gowestyounggrace, it was her 24th lifetime start, where she has been second or third 13 times.
Ekorus finished third.
In the second $17,209 non-betting division, it was a wire-to-wire romp by Just Delightful, who won by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2.
Driven and co-owned by Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Cushing and partners Stephen Downey and Anthony and Joseph Romanelli, the daughter of Western Maverick grabbed her fourth win of the season. She was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.
Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) finished second; Perfectly Lovely (Switzer Jr.) was third.
Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes concludes at Fryeburg with the 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 9). The series culminates with the $320,000-plus sophomore finals, which take place at Bangor Raceway on the following Saturday, Oct. 17.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com.