Scarborough, ME — The 2020 harness racing season will kick into high gear on Saturday (Oct. 10) at Scarborough Downs as the venerable seaside oval once again plays host to the championship round of the 3-year-old division of the Maine Sire Stakes program.

More than $250,000 in purse money will be on the line as the top state-bred trotters and pacers square off in epic fashion, vying for bragging rights, on what will be the richest day in state of Maine harness racing this year.

R T’s Warrior will be putting her 2020 undefeated Maine Sire Stakes streak on the line. Michael Newman photo.

Four divisional Sire Stakes finals will be interspersed among the 10-race program but the undisputed star of the day will be the marauding trotter, R T’s Warrior, who will be putting her 2020 undefeated Maine Sire Stakes streak on the line in the $61,194 filly trotting division, as she guns for her seventh state-bred score this year.

Owned by William Phipps, the prolific filly will bid to add the sophomore championship trophy to the 2-year-old hardware she earned last season as she matches strides against an accomplished field from post number four in the fifth race of the afternoon card. The imposing filly will score as the 2-1 morning line favorite as part of a pari-mutuel entry with stablemate Noble Posey, with regular driver Matty Athearn teaming for his mother, trainer Gretchen Athearn.

While all eyes will rightly be on R T’s Warrior, the other divisions are headlined by feature players in their own right.

Shes A Fireball will figure prominently in the $61,210 filly pacing division as she’ll be sent to the gate as the 2-1 morning line favorite from post number six in the first race of the afternoon. Owned in tandem by Ronald Cushing and Adams Racing, the Heidi Gibbs trainee will seek to double her championship pleasure by adding the sophomore crown to the freshman title she earned last season. Regular teamster Ron Cushing will be in the driver’s seat.

Spatterdash ships in from Plainridge Park in Massachusetts to headline the $61,226 colt pacing division. Owned and trained by veteran horseman Ralph Andersen, the 5-2 morning line favorite may well challenge the divisional track record after recent back-to-back 1:57 scores at Scarborough Downs. Spatterdash scores from post six in the second race of the afternoon card.

Noble Sand Man has been installed as the 5-2 favorite in the $60,803 colt trotting division as noted stakes pilot Heath Campbell catch drives for trainer Ivan Davies. Owned and bred by Michael Andrew, the pride of Gorham, Maine rides a three race win streak into battle and will start from post position two in the afternoon’s fourth race.

First post for the Maine Sire Stakes championship performance will be at 1:30 p.m. and as always, admission is free at the family friendly confines of the Downs. Mask coverings will be mandatory and social distancing will be enforced in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

Scarborough Downs features live harness racing on a Tuesday and Saturday schedule with post time slated at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

In addition to the live on-track experience, people may also watch and wager on Scarborough Downs races at Maine’s OTB parlors, and online at dayatthetrack.com (Maine residents must wager at hollywoodraces.com).

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or visit our Facebook page.