Topsham, ME – The margin of victory was minuscule as Star Speaker survived the close scrutiny of the photo-finish camera to post his 32nd career victory on Wednesday (Aug. 12) at the Topsham (ME) Fair.
Breaking third under the steady hand of driver Aaron Hall, Star Speaker enjoyed drafting behind a torrid opening quarter as QF driver Tyler Neil gunned Nikasa N off the gate while quickly engaging in a game of hardball with the McGwire Sowers driven Cowboys Cargo; the latter acquiescing into a pocket journey as the field fell into line toward the half.
Sensing pressure from the pack, Sowers pulled his charge into a first-over posture to quickly overcome the upstart front-runner, as the rest of the field jockeyed to avoid the soon to be leg-weary foe.
Hall found his clearance as the field battled up the backstretch, tipping Star Speaker while diligently making headway toward Cowboy Cargo with the pursuit becoming dogged through the final turn and the entirety of the long Topsham stretch, with strides becoming matched as they approached the finish line.
Star Speaker’s epic surge at the wire was met by Cowboy Cargo’s equally determined defensive stand, and the fans cheered their favorites home. Holding their breaths and clutching their tickets, they waited in hope for a favorable outcome from the photo but it was eventually Star Speaker who overcame in the 1:59.1 epic and Aaron Hall who wore the laurels in the winner’s circle.
“That was close,” Hall exclaimed “I knew it was going to be tight on the wire and honestly I was listening to Mike’s (track announcer Mike Sweeney) call. He’s usually got a pretty good eye for these things. He gave me the last call so I was hoping he was right. I asked McGwire and he wasn’t sure either. It was a fun race and both horses raced great.”
The win was one of three on the program for Hall who also scored with gate-to-wire efforts on the trot with Jax Spratt (2:02) and Dynamical Tad (2:04.2).
Racing will continue throughout the week at Topsham with post time for Thursday’s (Aug. 13) card set at at 3 p.m. preceded by a non-wagering Maine Sire Stakes event at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s (Aug. 15) grand finale will head to post at 1 p.m.
Programs for the Topsham races are available on-track as well as through the Trackmaster online platform and for those not able to come to the track, wagering on the Topsham Fair, as well as hundreds of harness and Thoroughbred racetracks across the world, is available on Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com.
For more information regarding the entire schedule of events for the 172nd Topsham Fair, please visit www.topshamfair.org.