Bangor, ME — Two full fields of eight 3-year-old pacers highlight the first round of Maine Sire Stakes action at Bangor on Wednesday (June 14), which marks the start of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase.

With up to ten legs for each division throughout the summer and autumn months, and purses on the rise, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes has been promoting and providing a venue for Pine Tree State Standardbreds since the legislative establishment of the program in 1972.

While the series has evolved over the last 50 years, so has the speed and durability of the Maine-bred harness horse. While it is not uncommon to see horses by Maine sires competing throughout North America, New England drivers and trainers are also making a name for themselves on the National stage.

Bruce Ranger, who recently eclipsed 10,000 lifetime driving victories, is a regular on the Maine Sire Stakes circuit, and will make his presence known when the wings fold at historic Bass Park for the opener.

Last year’s champion freshmen pacer, Two Towns Over, makes his debut in the first of two non-betting events. Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin and driven by Aaron Hall, the son of Deuce Seelster won six of nine last season, including the $61,067 final at Cumberland in a track record 1:57.

Sure to be one of the ‘glamour boys’ to keep an eye on this season, Two Towns Over is right at home at Bangor, having just put in a couple of impressive qualifying preps over the last several weeks.

“He was real sharp,” noted his regular pilot Hall. “He’s a handy horse to drive. You can put him in a spot and ask him to go whenever you need to.”

Hall continued, “I am very excited for the upcoming season. Val (Grondin) and Heath (Campbell) did a great job bringing him back. He’s strong and we think he will be as good as he was last year.”

Although Two Towns Over earned $80,374 last year for owner/trainer Grondin, he was not richest freshman of the bunch. That distinction goes to Luke McGook, who hails from the Tardif ‘Taskforce.’ The 3-year-old son of Rock N’ Roll World competed in both the Maine Sire Stakes and the Massachusetts program at Plainridge.

Finishing second in the Maine final to Two Towns Over on Oct. 1, two days later Luke McGook finished second in a Mass. Stake and then won the next $65,000 event on Oct. 16. He finished the season with a second place finish in the $125,000 Mass. final at Plainridge, making him one of the richest Maine-bred and sired freshman pacers of all time. Bred by Erika Saucier, last year he earned a whopping $140,457 for his Leighton Property owners.

While it’s widely known that the Tardif clan arrives at each venue loaded for bear, this week’s bow is no exception. Marc and Peggy have six entries in the first two events, and their horses always arrive ‘ready to race.’

Two Towns Over scores from post seven in the first non-betting race on Wednesday’s (June 14) card at Bangor, post time 2:15 p.m., while Luke McGook has post two in the second event.

Complete entries for the races are available here.

Saturday’s Cumberland program has two $13,500-plus divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies, which are slated as races one and nine on the regular card. First post is 3:15 p.m.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website: www.mainesirestakes.com.