by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Maine Sire Stakes action made its third consecutive appearance at Scarborough Downs on Sunday (July 22) as the 3-year-old colt pacing division took center stage. In stunning deja vu fashion, everything old was reminiscently new once again on Sunday with two stakes divisions generating the exact same winners from just the week prior.

Derek Davis photo

Twelve secured his fourth consecutive Sire Stakes score in the $10,605 second division on Sunday.

It seems that Pembroke Pharoah has found winning races to his liking. It was only last week that the Baron Biltmore-Migrane colt tasted the sweet nectar of success for the very first time in his career. Apparently he found the experience so pleasing that he came back for a second serving in his very next start, and has now earned the status of “flavor of the month” in Maine Sire Stakes circles.

Driver Heath Campbell was once again able to negotiate a prime second-over journey for the up-and-coming sophomore this week, sliding in behind the twice favored My Last Dime (David Ingraham) as the field approached the midway point. Ever game, My Last Dime persistently tracked down the front-running ThankYouAllMyFans (Eddie Davis Jr.), ultimately overtaking his prey at the top of the lane, but equally determined, Pembroke Pharoah once again ascended over his rival at the wire, with the margin of victory not measured in cubits but rather in mere whiskers.

Pembroke Pharoah is trained by Valerie Grondin for the ownership consortium of William Varney and Heath Campbell. He claimed top honors in his $10,606 stakes split while stopping the teletimer in 1:58.4. My Last Dime was vanquished to second best for the second week in a row, while ThankYouAllMyFans held steady for third.

A horse named Twelve secured his fourth consecutive Sire Stakes score in the $10,605 second division on Sunday as driver/trainer Eddie Davis Jr. deftly steered his charge on toward an early lead. From that perspective they toyed with the field through moderate fractions, gaining an advantage which they would ultimately never relinquish.

Owned by Dean Malin, the Shady Character-Sabine Hanover gelding paced the mile in a leisurely 1:59.3 to score the seventh top tally of his career while simultaneously delivering the 4999th career tally for driver Eddie Davis Jr. StormyWeatherAhead (Matthew Athearn) rode the perfect pocket trip to earn the bridesmaid share while Just One More Time (Michael Stevenson) sat the pylons to finish third.

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.

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