Luke McGook takes another Maine Breeders Stakes

WINDSOR, ME – Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World), the handy Maine-sired freshman harness racing pacer with the funny name got some redemption on Monday (Aug. 29) at Windsor Fair, reasserting himself as the top dog in the division with a victory, and placing last week’s only career loss in the rear-view mirror.

One of the stars of the Tardif Taskforce, the colt got a two-hole trip behind Mattucci (Heath Campbell / Valerie Grondin) in the $18,184 Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS) for laterally gaited 2-year-old males.  Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. let the pacesetter establish opening panels of 29 and 1:00.4 before pulling to the outer flow and challenging for the lead.

Into a 1:31 three-quarter mark Luke McGook had gained momentum and was just three parts of a length behind the leader Matucci, with stable mate Rockaroundsam (Andy Harrington / Marc Tardif) hot on his heels second over.

At the head of the stretch Luke McGook stuck a nose in front and extended his advancement toward the wire to win by half a length in 1:59.3, a new lifetime best.

Bred by Ericka Saucier and now owned by Leighton Property, Luke McGook paid $3.00 to win for the sixth time in his seven-start career.  Mattucci finished second with Rockaround Sam third.  All three posted speedy 28 and apiece final quarters.

In the earlier $18,183 MSBS 2CP non-betting race Two Towns Over (Aaron Hall / Valerie Grondin) got his third victory in a row, the previous of which including handing Luke McGook his first and only career loss.

Scoring from post three, the freshman son of Deuce Seelster went right to the top and never looked back to win in 1:58.3, a new career best, with a 28.1 last quarter thrown in for good measure.  Owned by Valerie Grondin and bred by Andrew Bustard, Two Towns Over is just five points from second place in the Maine Breeders Stakes divisional standings for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

So Rock N’ Roll (Andy Harrington / Marc Tardif) finished second; Two Points (Mark Athearn / Gretchen Athearn) was third.

On Sunday (Aug. 29) the Tardif Taskforce was at it again, sweeping both Maine Breeders Stakes $17,000-plus divisions for 2-year-old filly pacers.

With both races early, non-wagering races, the fillies tested the surface for the upcoming pari-mutuel card and rated it fast and functional.  Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. / Marc Tardif) was content to let Janie (Mark Athearn / Gretchen Athern) cut the fractions, with the former besting the latter in the final strides to win in 2:01.2.

Owned by Leighton Property and bred by Lesley Leighton, it was the third consecutive victory for Katelyn’s Angel. Janie finished second; Ally Mac (Aaron Hall / Mike Graffam) was third.

The divisional point’s leader Pickmepickme (Andy Harrington / Marc Tardif) continued her winning ways, romping and stomping to a 2:00.3 victory in the second $17,989 MSBS freshmen filly pace.  Scoring from post four, the daughter of Western Maverick got every call as she won handily for the fifth time in her career.  Owned and bred by Marc Tardif, Pickmepickme now has four wins in a row.

South St Dottie (Nick Graffam / Mike Graffam) was a fast closing second; La Mambacita (Scott McKenzie / Heidi Gibbs) was third.

Thursday (Sept. 1), Windsor hosts the Maine-bred 3-year-old filly pacers, with two $18,000-plus divisions, with the ‘glamour boy’ colts returning on Friday (Sept. 2).  Windsor is one of Maine’s oldest and largest agricultural fairs and runs through Labor Day (Sept. 5).

Following the Windsor Fair, the Maine Breeders Stakes makes two stops at Bangor on Sept. 11 & 17, and then returns to the following fairs: Farmington, Sept. 18 – 21; Cumberland, Sept. 28 – Oct. 1 (2yo finals); and historic Fryeburg, Oct 6 – 8.

The Maine-sired sophomore finale returns to Bangor 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 here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Breeders Stakes