by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Scarborough Downs will kick off its fall meet in high gear on Saturday (Oct. 14) as the folks at the seaside oval once again play host to the championship round of the 3-year-old division of the Maine Sire Stakes program.

More than $370,000 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.

Michael Newman photo

Pembroke Perfect will be putting her season-long undefeated streak on the line while attempting to score her 13th win of the year in the $86,183 filly pacing division.

Four divisional Sire Stakes finals will be interspersed among the 11-race program but the undisputed star of the day will be the aptly named pacer Pembroke Perfect, who will be putting her season-long undefeated streak on the line while attempting to score her 13th win of the year in the $86,183 filly pacing division.

Owned in partnership by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, 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 ninth race of the afternoon card. The imposing filly will score as the even-money morning line favorite as regular driver Heath Campbell once again gets the nod from trainer Valerie Grondin.

While all eyes will rightly be on Pembroke Perfect, the other divisions are headlined by feature players in their own right.

Princeoftheforest has been installed as the even-money favorite in the $85,928 colt pacing division as the Kevin Switzer driven and trained gelding rides a dominating six-race win streak into battle on Saturday.

Knella Bella boasts a nifty three-race win streak of her own while shouldering the pressure of being made the 7-5 morning line choice in the $86,172 filly trotting division. Mark Athearn will drive for trainer Gretchen Athearn.

The mutuel entry of Fox Cast (Gary Mosher) and King Cast (Mark Athearn) has been named the 6-5 morning line favorite in the $86,156 colt trotting final after combining to win nine races this season for Hall of Fame trainer Donald Richards.

First post for 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.

Scarborough Downs will proudly feature live harness racing every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. throughout the fall season, with closing day of the 2017 meet scheduled for Dec. 10.

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