by Mike Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Morrigan claimed victory in the first of two splits of Maine Sire Stakes races held at Scarborough Downs on Saturday (June 29).

Michael Newman photo

Morrigan and driver Kevin Switzer win one for the Make A Wish kids on Saturday at Scarborough Downs.

While her connections were certainly pleased that she added the lion’s share of the $11,140 purse to her career bankroll, the good folks at the Make A Wish Foundation of Maine were even more overjoyed with the outcome. Morrigan’s driver, Kevin Switzer, has pledged to donate every penny of his five percent drivers commission to the worthwhile organization during the entire month of June.

Switzer has been joined in the endeavor by trainers Tommy Richardson, Jon Chenard and Dana Childs along with the members of the Maine Amateur Drivers Club. With one race day left before the month comes to a close the tally dedicated to the Make A Wish kids now stands in excess of $5,700.

Morrigan insisted on her customary front end seat while making her 2013 debut, tugging owner, driver and trainer Switzer around the raceway on Saturday as she claimed victory for the ninth time in her career with a mile timed in 2:00. Molly Grace (Ruel Goodblood, Jr.) was second while Beach Bluster (John Nason) secured third.

In other stakes news, Pembroke Violet, last season’s freshman champion, quickly served notice that she would once again be a force to be reckoned with as she threw in an exemplary performance to overpower the field in the second stakes contest of the day timed in 1:59.3.

Sprinting clear by open lengths at the wire, the daughter of Baran Biltmore recorded her sixth career score from only 10 lifetime starts with accomplished stakes driver Heath Campbell steering for the ownership tandem of William Varney and Valerie Grondin. Dual Pats Artist (Mark Athearn) held on for runner-up honors while Double Nickels (John Nason) grabbed the show dough.

Stakes racing resumes at Scarborough Downs on Sunday (June 30) with three splits of the marquee 3-year-old pacing colt division taking center stage. First post on Sunday is slated for 1:05 p.m. (EDT).