Topsham Fair opens with Maine Sire Stakes

TOPSHAM, ME – Two $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies opened the festivities at Topsham Fair on Monday (Aug. 7), serving as the starter’s call for the annual Pine Tree State harness racing pari-mutuel fair circuit.

Always popular attractions across the midways of New England, Standardbred trotters and pacers have long enjoyed preferred status at the agricultural events that highlight the calendar during the summer and early-autumn months.  The Topsham Fair has been a family tradition since 1854, and this year hosts four days of Maine Sire Stakes racing.

Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) extended her winning streak to three as she took the fastest $14,684 division of the sophomore filly sidesteppers for driver Kevin Switzer Jr. and conditioner Marc Tardif.

Scoring from post five, the filly was first over past the half and strode home a winner in 2:00.4 by 1-1/4 lengths.  The filly rewarded the fair faithful by paying $5.60 to win.  Katelyn’s Angel is owned and was bred by the Leightons.

Wagering favorite South St Dottie (Aaron Hall-Mike Graffam) cut the fractions and finished second; La Mambacita (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) was third.

In the early, $14,459 non-wagering division, Pickmepickme (Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardiff) had nine lengths on the field as she crossed the finish wire first, however, was disqualified and placed third by the judges for a pylon infraction.  Alittlemorebliss (Dave Ingraham-Mike Cayoutte) was awarded the victory with Ally Mac (Hall-Graffam) placed second.

Racing resumes on Wednesday (Aug. 9) at Topsham with two $14,000-plus glamour boys divisions, which had been postponed from the previous day.  Luke McGook will look to make it six-in-a-row as he puts his winning streak to the test in race four.

Racing continues with the remaining pacing divisions through August 12.  The third week in August brings the monsters of the midway up to Skowhegan for another full week of Maine harness racing at its finest.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes