Farmington, ME – The two divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies closed out the Farmington Fair on Thursday (Sept. 18), with the undefeated filly phenom Snowonthepines wrapping up her successful tour of the Pine Tree State summer circuit.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was back in the sulky for the swift daughter of Dude’s The Man as the pair took a front-end tour of the agricultural oval in grand style. Posting opening panels of :29.2 and :58.4 to the half with Just Delightful (Ron Cushing) parked and pressing the issue.
As the field rolled down the backstretch for the final time into a 1:29.4 third panel, the aggressor Just Delightful lost some of her steam, leaving Snowonthepines all alone on the front end.
Around the final turn and down the stretch, the divisional darling showed why she will be the horse to beat in next week’s freshman finals as she drew off by 2-1/2 lengths for a 1:59.2 clocking, pushing her seasonal earnings to $57,315.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner/breeder Leighton Property, the $16,948 race was held as the opener on the wagering card. Snowonthepines paid $2.80 for the eighth victory of her career. From the Bettor’s Delight mare Snow Cone A, she is a half-sister to another top performer, Two Fold Cold p,4,1:50f-‘25 ($271,826).
Perfectly Lovely (Aaron Hall) finished second; Just Delightful hung on for third.
In the second $17,124 division for frosh fillies, it was Ekorus who put the field away with a strong performance.
Leaving from post four, the daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood was sent to the lead by Andy Harrington and never looked back. Winning easily by three lengths in 2:03.3, the full sister to star distaff Wolverina p,4,1:52 ($367,328) secured her third win of the season.
Trained and bred by Mike Graffam, who co-owns with William Arnold and Martha Holden, she returned $4.
Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) finished second; McKenna Jeanne (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes transitions over to the Cumberland Fair next week, with the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 24) and then the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Thursday (Sept. 25). The sophomore trotters race on Friday (Sept. 26) followed by the rich freshman finals on Saturday (Sept. 27).
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