Skowhegan, ME – Maine’s fabled fairground circuit has long served as the proving ground for aspiring harness racing drivers, providing a bevy of first win experiences for many of the sport’s top-rated teamsters.
Nationally noted stars like Jason Bartlett, Bruce Ranger, Billy Parker, Jr, and Gary Mosher all earned their stripes and first tasted victory on the rural ovals scattered across the Pine Tree State, and on Wednesday (Aug. 19), it was 17-year-old Carl Wharton IV’s turn to make that first triumphant trip back to the Skowhegan State Fair’s winner’s circle after winning a Maine Amateur Driving Club contest.
Leaving alertly from the inside wing, Wharton insistently secured the prime pocket journey with Quatrain Blue Chip. Drafting tightly behind the front-running Circling The Prey (driven by Joseph Burke), whose determined pace carried Wharton’s charge all the way to the head of the stretch.
After patiently surviving a first-over challenge from Fox Valley Ren (Marianna Monaco) which pinned Wharton to the pylons, and a late, deep, three-wide rally bid from the 14-year-old Grand Galop Semalu (Derek Howes), Wharton finally found clearance to tip his charge toward a mid-stretch drive, eventually coasting to a 1-1/2 length margin timed in an under wraps 1:58.2.
The win was the third of the season for Quatrain Blue Chip who is trained by Marianna Monaco for owners Debra Vermette and Sarah Kimball.
Wharton’s premier driving win came after only seven career starts in his very first year appearing as a QF driver. And with four pari-mutuel fair meets remaining on the state-of-Maine calendar following Skowhegan, this may well not be the last we hear from Wharton this season.
Racing continues under the lights at the Skowhegan State Fair on Thursday (August 20) with a trio of non-wagering Maine Sire Stakes events scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT) followed by a nine-race wagering card set for 7 p.m. The fairground meeting will conclude with afternoon cards on Friday and Saturday (August 21-22) with post time set at 1 p.m.
The Skowhegan live video feed can be enjoyed online at www.youtube.com/@Mainefairharnessracing while wagering is available online on the Hollywood Races site at www.hollywoodraces.com.
Carl Wharton IV (right) and trainer Marianna Monaco are all smiles after Wharton’s first career driving win with Quatrain Blue Chip at the Skowhegan State Fair on Wednesday. Joe Shaw photo.