by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough ME — A large crowd witnessed the return of Maine Sire Stakes action to Scarborough Downs on Saturday (Aug. 11), bolstered by legions of tourists who flocked from the beaches on the overcast weekend afternoon, as they cheered on twin splits of the sophomore colt pacing division of the state-bred program.

Michael Newman photo

Hoppiand ThankYouAllMyFans dead-heat for the win in Maine Sire Stakes action.

ThankYouAllMyFans revved up his engines from the get go in the $10,611 first division, as driver Eddie Davis Jr. attempted to secure the customary front end seat for his home-bred steed, a pacer who had been sent merrily down the highway in each of his last five starts.

The Ron Cushing piloted Hoppi would eventually thwart that endeavor though, as the pair of speedball sophomores jockeyed for early position to the quarter, at which point it was ordained that Hoppi would lead the charge from that pole onward, with ThankYouAllMyFans’ nose glued right to Cushing’s helmet.

A rousing, yet strategic game of catch-me-if-you-can then ensued, until the battle was re-joined at the top of the lane. ThankYouAllMyFans pulled to the outside of Hoppi at that point in the mile, as the tandem quite literally matched strides to the wire, before eventually dead-heating for the win in a sizzling 1:57 clocking; a brand new lifetime mark for both.

Hoppi, while making his first start of the 2018 season, extended his undefeated streak to a perfect 10 for 10 on his career. The son of Western Maverick-Barbra Ann is trained by Heidi Gibbs for the ownership group of KDK Standardbreds and Florence O’Keefe.

ThankYouAllMyFans secured his first win of the 2018 season and has now hit the board in 17 of 19 career starts. The son of Baron Biltmore-Holme In A Moment is trained by Eddie Davis Jr. for the ownership consortium of Janet and Eddie Davis, Jr and Janice Watkinson.

Pembroke Pharoah’s (Heath Campbell) settled for third best in the contest, as his three-race win streak came to an end on Saturday (Aug. 11).

Long shot fever then struck at the Downs in the $10,610 second division as the 14-1 shot, StormyWeatherAhead and driver Matty Athearn wore down the front running combination of Eddie Davis Jr. and the pacer Twelve, in an epic display of strength and stamina.

Guided to the outside just past the three-eighths pole, StormyWeatherAhead appeared to be in uncharted territory as he began his assault on the streaking Twelve, who to that point had not tasted defeat in five consecutive appearances.

Stride for stride they duked it out all the way to the wire, with Twelve appearing to hold the upper hand, until a desperate late burst of speed propelled StormyWeatherAhead past his foe at the wire, with mere whiskers separating the two at the finish.

StormyWeatherAhead, a son of Luckcamotion-Wolf Creek Cupid, owned by Leighton Property and trained by Marc Tardif, stopped the clock in a career best 1:57.2, while returning a hefty $31.20 for a $2 win ticket.

Twelve finished a dead-game runner-up while MyLastDime (David Ingraham) rallied for the show.

Maine Sire Stakes action now heads out on its weeklong Skowhegan Fair swing before returning to the Downs in one week’s time on Sunday (Aug. 19).

Scarborough Downs will proudly feature live harness racing throughout the summer season on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 1:30 p.m.

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