Cumberland, ME — Trainer Marc Tardif swept both divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers at Topsham Fair on Tuesday (Aug. 9).

Katelyn’s Angel went a tough first over trip around the narrow Topsham turns to grab her first stakes victory while winning the $17,989 opener, billed as the Jake Phipps Memorial.

Kevin Switzer Jr. helped Katelyn’s Angel win her first stakes race Tuesday at Topsham, holding on to win by a neck. Shelley Gilpatrick photo.

Scoring from post two with Kevin Switzer Jr. in the sulky, the daughter of Western Maverick got shuffled back to fifth as the field was led to the quarter in a snappy :30 by La Mambacita (Ron Cushing/Heidi Gibbs). Past the half in 1:01.1, Switzer pulled Katelyn’s Angel to challenge for the lead and was high and wide sticking a nose in front of La Mambacita at a 1:32.3 third panel. Those two fillies battled around the final turn and down the stretch with Katelyn’s Angel prevailing by a neck in 2:04. Justcallmemimi (Aaron Hall/Mike Graffam) finished third.

Bred by Lesley Leighton and now owned by Leighton Property, Katelyn’s Angel has two wins in five seasonal starts and paid $3.40 to win.

An early non-wagering race also went to a member of the Tardif Taskforce as Pickmepickme continued her winning ways, picking up the victor’s portion of the $17,814 MSBS purse.

Driven by Andy Harrington, the 2-year-old daughter of Western Maverick made every stanza a winning one, cruising home by 6-1/2 lengths in 2:03.2. Owned and bred by Marc Tardif, it was the second stakes victory in a row for Pickmepickme who now has three wins in five starts this year. Janie (Mark Athearn/Gretchen Athearn) finished second; Ally Mac (Aaron Hall/Mike Graffam) was third.

On Monday’s (Aug. 8) card, which was re-scheduled from Sunday, the opener went to pari-mutuel-busting longshot Wabanaki who scored in the $18,214 MSBS for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Trained and driven by Ivan Davies, the son of Boy Band shocked favorite Outlawofthevalley and paid $44.60 to win for the maiden-breaking 2:08.3 mile. Wabanaki is owned and was bred by Mike Andrew. Outlawofthevalley (Kevin Switzer Jr./Marc Tardif) finished second; Pembroke Traveler (Heath Campbell/Valerie Grondin) was third.

In Monday’s $18,714 MSBS 3-year-old male trot, Katahdin Mark returned to his previous form, grabbing his fourth seasonal stakes victory in a wire-to-wire romp in 2:04.4. Trained and driven by Gary Hall, the son of Noble Venture is the homebred property of Jim and Betsey Kelley and paid $7.00 to win. Favorite Warriorofthevalley (Andy Harrington/Marc Tardif) finished second; Pembroke Fiber (Heath Campbell/Valerie Grondin) was third.

In two early non-wagering events for trotters, She’salilbitmouthy (MSBS $17,709, 2FT), won wire-to-wire in 2:09.2 and was driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Bill Phipps. The daughter of Victor Blue Chip was bred by Stephen Hall. Pembroke Honcho (MSBS $18,736, 3FT) won by a nose in 2:05.3 for driver Aaron Hall and trainer Valerie Grondin. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and is now owned by Bill Varney.

Maine Breeders Stakes continue at Topsham through Saturday (Aug. 13), with the remaining MSBS fair schedule as follows:

Skowhegan, Aug. 14–20
Windsor, Aug. 27–Sept. 5
Farmington, Sept. 18–21
Cumberland, Sept. 28–Oct. 1 (2-year-old finals)
Fryeburg, Oct. 6–8

Looking ahead, the Maine-sired sophomores return to Bangor once again for all of the 3-year-old MSBS divisional finals on Oct. 15. The 2-year-old championships will be held two weeks earlier on Saturday (Oct. 1) at the Cumberland Fair.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website.