Ivan Davies trotters fly through Fryeburg Fair

FARMINGTON, ME – Two $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore harness racing trotters soared through the famous Fryeburg Fair on Wednesday (Oct. 4) with the impressive pair of Ivan Davies-trained and driven pupils scoring again before the regular pari-mutuel card.

In the first $14,827 Maine Sire Stakes event the rest of the field of 3-year-old trotting fillies were content to let Davies’ Wild Ending (Boy Band) cut the fractions while they followed along politely.  Through moderate panels of :31, 1:01.4 and 1:32.2, the conditioner-reinsman was very much in command with the top filly, making every call a winning one.

Wild Ending and Davies hit the wire in 2:03, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths.  She is owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew and bred by the late Mike Andrew.  It was Wild Ending’s eighth win of the season, and fourth victory in a row.

She’salilbitmouthy (Mike Cushing) finished second; Melania’s Best (John Nason) was third.

Davies came right back with the colt by the same sire, Wabanaki (Boy Band), and maintained his pylon starting position through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.4 and 1:31.

By the head of the stretch Davies had Wabanaki rolling with a full head of steam and put an additional 5-1/2 lengths between himself and the rest of the field, scoring in 2:00.1.

Also owned by Anita ‘Bunny’ Anastosopoulos-Andrew, and bred by the late Mike Andrew, it was Wabanaki’s seventh win of the season.

Eustis (Mike Stevenson-Gordon Corey) finished second; Outlawofthevalley (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Fryeburg Fair on Friday (Sept. 6) with the 3-year-old pacing fillies and concludes Saturday (Oct. 7) with sophomore male pacers.  All the Pine Tree State-sired 3-year-olds reconvene at Bangor for their $280,000-plus divisional finals on Saturday (Oct. 14).

For more about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website by clicking here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stake