by Wendy Ireland, for Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association

West Gardiner, ME — The Maine Breeders Stakes 2-year-old finals were held on Friday (Sept. 9) at Bangor Raceway and four finalists came away with victories.

Shelley Gilpatrick photo

Princeoftheforest celebrating his hard-fought victory in Maine Breeders Stakes action.

In the first division of the evening, King Cast, a 2-year-old gelding trotter by Current Cast out of the mare Queen Charlotte, crossed the wire first in a time of 2:02.4 for driver Mark Athearn and trainer Donald Richards. King Cast is owned by Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight and bred by Thomas Dillon. King Cast ended the season with earnings of $57,987 and a mark of 2:02.4.

In the fourth race of the evening the 2-year-old trotting fillies went for a purse of $51,087. When heavy favorite Pembroke Conifer went off stride in the last turn, it opened up for Noble One to coast to the wire in a time of 2:06 for driver/trainer Ivan Davies.

Noble One is a 2-year-old trotting filly by Noble Venture out of the mare Demeter and is owned and bred by Douglass Hutchins. Noble One had season earnings of $41,168 and a mark of 2:06.

The 2-year-old pacing fillies were the third division of the evening. The heavy favorite, Pembroke Perfect, overcame post position eight to take the lead in a quick :28.2 opening quarter and never looked back as she waltzed to the wire in 1:58.4 for driver/trainer Heath Campbell.

Pembroke Perfect is owned by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe and bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe. Pembroke Perfect is a 2-year-old pacing filly by Western Maverick out of the mare, Perfect Launch. This filly had seasonal earnings of $60,155 and a mark of 1:58.2.

The 2-year-old pacing colts lined up behind the starting car in the eighth race of the evening. The two favorites in the race were a stable entry by KDK Standardbreds, Princeoftheforest and Bilt For Delight. These two young colts put on quite a show for the crowd as they drew away from the field, but in the end Princeoftheforest won the battle in a time of 1:58.3 for driver/trainer Kevin Switzer. Princeoftheforest is owned by KDK Standardbreds and Anthony Sivik Jr and bred by KDK Standardbreds. This 2-year-old colt pacer is by Baron Biltmore out of the mare Barbara Ann. Princeoftheforest had seasonal earnings of $59,358 and mark of 1:57.4.

In the last race on the night of 2-year-old champions, a consolation race was held for the 2-year-old pacing fillies. In a short six-horse field, DownEast Foxy Lady finished first for her first lifetime win in a time of 2:04.1 for driver Eddie Davis Jr .and trainer David Crochere. DownEast Foxy Lady is owned and bred by James Ramsdell.

As the season concludes for the 2-year-olds, the 3-year-olds continue racing the Maine Fair Circuit with the finals scheduled for Oct. 15 at Scarborough Downs.