Bangor, ME — A pair of $17,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies closed out the week of harness action at Bangor Raceway Sunday (Sept. 7), with the two top distaffs in the division reigning supreme.
In the first $17,201 division Ron Cushing sent his own Lysiun (5-2) out to an early lead, with Whisper Of Luck (9-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) dropping into the pocket as the field dashed to a :29.1 opening panel.
With no movement into the outer flow past the :59.4 midway point, the 2/5 favorite Chasing Dudes (Nick Graffam) tipped to the outside past the five-eighths marker from third and challenged for the lead. Then, the pacesetting Lysiun was rough gaited heading into the 1:29.3 third station and ultimately went off stride.
As Chasing Dudes became the new leader around the final turn, Whisper Of Luck gave chase on the outside as the pair matched strides heading into the home stretch and down the lane.
Prevailing by a measured length, Chasing Dudes hit the wire first in 1:58.4, a new lifetime best.
Trained by Mike Graffam who co-owns with breeder Bob Marston, the daughter of Dude’s The Man picked up her fifth win of the season (third in a row) and ninth overall. She has now earned $50,331 on the season returning $2.80, and maintained her place in second on the divisional leaderboard.
Lysiun hung on for third.
In the second $17,201 Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore distaffs it was divisional leader Leanne Marie (2/5, Mike Cushing) that parlayed a perfect two-hole trip into a neck victory over Glorilla (3-1, Aaron Hall) in 1:59.3.
Trained by Charlene Cushing who also bred with co-owners with Pamela Smith and Jane DiPompo, the daughter of Artistic Fella grabbed her sixth win of the season and second in a row.
Leanne Marie paid $2.80 while taking a new time badge and now has $56,788 earned this season, while going over $100,000 in lifetime earnings.
Dudes Pretty Chick (4-1, Heath Campbell) finished third.
The Maine Sire Stakes transitions to Farmington for a week of agricultural fair racing, starting with the 2-year-old colt pacers on Monday (Sept. 15), followed by the 3-year-old colt pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 16) and then all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Wednesday (Sept. 17).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com