Maine Sire Stakes return to Scarborough Downs
July 19, 2018,by Michael Sweeney, director of publicity, Scarborough Downs
Scarborough, ME — The Maine Sire Stakes opened a weekend-long engagement at Scarborough Downs on Thursday (July 19), as the 3-year-old filly pacing division, divided into twin splits, anchored a well-received eight-race twilight program.
Michael Newman photo
Shes A Maverick proved fastest of all with a 1:59 score in Thursday’s Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
The opening stakes division saw Little Honey Badger bolt alertly off the car in a valiant attempt at gaining early supremacy. The David Ingraham-piloted entry was immediately met with substantial gate speed to her inside, which forced her driver to abort the early takeoff maneuver and rein the filly back to third.
And third they sat as favorite Pembroke Passionly (Heath Campbell) cut the mile with the well-regarded Justcallmedee (Mark Athearn) claiming the pocket seat, and the three raced single file past the quarter pole.
As they turned for home, the battle that was aborted at the start of the race was renewed with great vigor, and the three principals fanned across the raceway as the finish line came into view. Little Honey Badger deftly sneaked off the pylon path and vaulted past her early vanquishers, gliding to a hand-driven lifetime best 2:01.1 in the second winner’s circle appearance of her career.
The sophomore daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood and Terri I Fra, owned and trained by Michael Graffam of Falmouth, Maine, claimed the lion’s share of the $10,831 purse while returning a generous $27.40 win price. Justcallmedee held steadily at the wire to secure second, while Pembroke Passionly faded back to third.
The $10,830 second division featured a rematch between a pair of fillies who finished first and second to each other in two of their 2018 Sire Stakes appearances.
Cab Bearnaise (Mitchell Cushing), a two-time stakes winner this season, bested Shes A Maverick (John Nason) in her sophomore debut only to experience the taste of defeat, courtesy of her rival, in their very next matchup.
Living up to expectations, the battle was joined immediately, with the gloves coming off as soon as the starter released the field. Cab Bearnaise, holding the inside edge over her rival, was hustled on to the early lead only to be hounded to the quarter-mile marker by Shes A Maverick, who paced through a torrid :28.1 panel while aired to the quarter.
Despite a perfunctory challenge up the backstretch and an attempt to rally through the lane, Cab Bearnaise’s fate was sealed after that opening salvo, as Shes A Maverick stepped off to a 2-1/2 victory in a lifetime best-equaling 1:59 clocking.
Shes A Maverick, a daughter of Western Maverick and Fiber Art, is trained by John Nason for owner Carolyn Corso of Henderson, Nev.
Cab Bearnaise, by finishing second, continued her mastery of the pari-mutuels with her fourth on-the-board placing this season. Where Does Time Go (David Ingraham) rode the pylons to grab the show dough.
Maine Sire Stakes action will be featured all weekend long at Scarborough Downs with the 2-year-old colt pacing division gracing the seaside oval on Saturday (July 21), one day before their sophomore older brothers take over center stage on Sunday (July 22).
Scarborough Downs will proudly feature live harness racing on Thursday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 1:30 p.m.