by Bill Ellis, Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Scarborough Downs played host to the inaugural edition of The Festival of Champions on Saturday (Oct. 24). Below are the results.

2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace Final-$54,783

The Festival of Champions at Scarborough Downs started off in track record form with Seeley Man and regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. doing his usual, grab the lead and never look back. The son of Western Maverick, in all of his 11 undefeated races, has always been on top at every quarter pole marker.

Seeley Man and regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. did his usual, grab the lead and never look back, equaling the track record for 2-year-old pacing colts in 1:57.2 in Saturday’s Festival of Champions at Scarborough Downs.

Seeley Man not only capped off his freshman year undefeated for owner Florence O’Keefe, but he also equaled the track record for 2-year-old pacing colts in 1:57.2.

Trainer Gerry Smith commented that this is a special kind of colt and his full capabilities have yet to be seen. Seeley Man upped his seasonal earnings to $74,296 with this 9-1/2 length romp and recorded his lifetime fastest mark. Seeley Man is the first foal of Perfect Launch.

2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot Final-$54,733

Heath Campbell with Pembroke Bada Bing took advantage of the uncharacteristic break at the start of undefeated Hes A Castoff. The sighs were loud in the clubhouse when Hes A Castoff jumped it off and Campbell looked to his right knowing that his early challenger would not be in the battle.

Pembroke Bada Bing grabbed the lead quite easily and really didn’t have an anxious moment as Corupt Commishner made a futile attempt in the stretch to catch the winner and had to settle for second while Dusty Venture, who sat beside Pembroke Bada Bing for most of the backstretch, tired to finish third.

Pembroke Bada Bing is the son of Current Cast and may have done something that has never been done before. Last week at Plainridge Park Casino he won the final of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes. It has been a good year and a better past few weeks for trainer Valerie Grondin who ranks third for trainers in the 10-299 category with a .511 UTR. Owner Bill Varney also owns the mare to this colt (Phoenicia Hanover) and saw another foal of hers win last night at Hollywood Casino Bangor with Pembroke Castaway. Pembroke Bada Bing covered the mile in 2:02.4.

3-Year-Old Filly Pace Final-$85,437

Mike Graffam with Analyze displayed her talents to the large Scarborough Downs crowd that were denied last year as this daughter of Neutralize, in 2014, was a bit off trying to overcome a sickness in those finals. This year in good health she did the same overland march again but this time she carried herself all the way to the winner’s circle in a lifetime equaling best of 1:59.

William Arnold, Richard Shaw and Michael Graffam, all of Maine, own this tough sophomore pacer who had to get it done from post position eight. Mike Graffam, who also trains Analyze, owns the mare to this filly, Analytical, and has another possible champion on the way as he also owns the full brother to this filly by the name of Heisenberg.

2-Year-Old Filly Trot Final-$54,550

Gonnakissmeornot recorded a track equaling mile of 2:03.

Six went postward and five of them watched the superior performance of Ron Cushing with Gonnakissmeornot. The daughter of Noble Venture recorded a track equaling mile of 2:03 as she recorded her eighth win in 10 starts. This 2-year-old brought her bankroll to just over $70,000 for owners Lynn-Marie Plouffe and Ronald Cushing, both from Maine and Kevin Sywyk of Michigan. Heidi Gibbs trains this filly; she is averaging just under a 25 percent win average with her stable. The dam, Wild Pine Princess, is owned by longtime owner/breeder Mike Andrew of Gorham.

In a post-race interview Ron Cushing thanked his longtime owner, Kevin Sywyk, for his loyal support in over 25 years of partnering.

2-Year-Old Filly Pace Final-$54,783

There is something special when you have raced the mare of a champion and that special feeling was felt by owner Dirk Duncan. Dirk raced French Stepp, the dam of Western Stepp, for many years with the assistance of his wife Sharon. Western Stepp, the daughter of Western Maverick, battled a bit in the beginning but held a little something for the end as she went by favorites Racing For Rick and Ladiesloveoutlaws coming for home. Driver Drew Campbell introduced Western Stepp to her first winner’s circle picture as she went an impressive 1:58.3.

Dr. Denise McNitt interviewed emotional trainer Jim Dunn after the race and it was noted that this was his first finals champion. Dunn said that when this filly wasn’t racing well early on, many said that she should be turned out. Dunn consulted his wife and she said that he should continue on and continuing on the filly did.

Dunn’s owner partnership with Duncan should see some more exciting races as the mare of this filly campaigned for eight years and recorded 45 wins in 155 starts.

3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot Final-$85,416

The Campbell, Grondin and Varney team did it again this time with Pembroke Jack B. For much of the year the son of CR Power Glide had been watching the tail of Broadway Cast but this day saw a different view.

When the photo was developed it was Campbell’s steed edging out Broadway Cast in the slimmest of margins. The timer recorded a new lifetime mark for Pembroke Jack B of 2:01.1 with his fifth win of the year.

Campbell stated in the winner’s circle that it was nice to set a new lifetime mark in the biggest race of the year.

3-Year-Old Filly Trot Final-$85,426

The combination of Campbell, Grondin and Varney added another smiling face to the Festival of Champions as Lynn Marie Plouffe, who co-owns with Varney, saw Bibbido Boo set a new track record for 3-year-old filly trotters in 1:59.3.

Photos by Michael Newman

Bibbido Boo set a new track record for 3-year-old filly trotters in 1:59.3.

Bibbido Boo grabbed the early lead, then surrendered to favorite Tropical Trice for just a short period as then Campbell asked for some speed and some distance and got it as she trotted away at the five-eighths marker and went on in the easiest of fashions.

Dr. Denise McNitt asked Lynn Marie Plouffe about this filly and Plouffe said that she wanted to sell her but couldn’t find a buyer so she asked Varney if he wanted a piece and the rest is history.

Speaking of history, Bibbido Boo, as a 2-year-old was undefeated going 10 for 10. This year the wins were not as plentiful but the purse money won was, at just over $75,000.

3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace Final-$85.464

Sort of like Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day but with a twist. Again Campbell, Grondin and Varney, but this Campbell was Drew and not Heath.

Post position eight didn’t seem to bother Pembroke Wildcat. Drew Campbell left with the son of Western Maverick and grabbed the lead, then relinquished it to stablemate Pembroke Maverick and Heath Campbell. Just past the half heading into the clubhouse turn Kevin Switzer Jr. got Reckless Rebel into the fray as he challenged Pembroke Maverick to the head of the stretch. Both horses couldn’t quite continue the fight which left an opening along the rail for Pembroke Wildcat and Drew took advantage and waltzed home.

With that victory Drew Campbell was just one win shy of win 4,000, but he would hit that milestone in his next drive, winning with Wishing You Well in the final race of the afternoon in a non-stakes event.

I guess more common than not, but Pembroke Wildcat also won the Massachusetts Sire Stakes final last week for his respective category. The Campbell, Grondin and Varney connections have taken advantage of the dual eligibility that is allowed with the Massachusetts Sire Stakes program.

Brother Heath Campbell won his 4,500th last month at the Windsor Fair.