Unbeaten My Saving Grace takes another in Maine

CUMBERLAND, ME – My Saving Grace (Shake It Off Lindy) hasn’t had to endure much hardship in her short, but successful harness racing career as the freshman filly is a perfect three-for-three so far this season in Maine Sire Stakes competition.

Driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn, the young daughter of Shake It Off Lindy (Crazed) hasn’t had to save anything for next week as she scampered off to victory lane by eight lengths in her $14,367 two-year-old filly trot for Pine Tree State-breds.

Under sunny skies Friday (July 29) the talented distaff stopped the timer in 2:06.3 to take a new lifetime mark over her home track Cumberland oval.  Owned by Margaret Thyng and bred by Leighton Property, My Saving Grace has saved up a nice nest egg of $23,487 so far this season.

Coupled with last week’s romp at Bangor, the frosh filly has a combined margin of victory of 14-3/4 lengths.  My Saving Grace paid $3.00 to win.  Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) finished second; Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing-Sherry Cushing) was third.

MY SAVING GRACE REPLAY

For the sophomore trotting fillies, it was a case of location, location, location.

In the $14,952 Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old diagonally gaited distaffs, heavy favorite She’salilbitmouthy ducked, pulled three-wide, and then ducked again before the field reached the pedestrian half in 1:02.3, following a 30.4 opening panel.

At the start, Another Adventure (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) had taken command initially, but begrudgingly yielded to Melania’s Best (John Nason) who was intent on taking no prisoners.  After getting stung to the quarter, and then parking the favorite, Nason found himself leading the way with an empty tank in that filly’s first seasonal purse start.

First up was Wild Ending (Boy Band) and driver Ivan Davies with She’salilbitmouthy and Hall in a tight pocket third.  At the decisive 1:33.2 third panel Wild Ending took the lead over Melania’s Best, who had called it an afternoon.  Another Adventure had taken chase and was now beside the favorite, locking her behind the tiring former pacesetter.

As the field rounded the final turn it was a race for second as Wild Ending had put all the wild antics behind her.  Another Adventure was too busy looking around to mount a serious stretch drive but hung on to be second.  B R Glory (Wally Watson-Lisa Watson) swooped them all to be a fast closing third.

Trained and driven by Ivan Davies, Wild Ending picked up her second lifetime victory for owner Anita Anastosopoulis.  She was bred in Maine by the late Michael Andrew.  She paid 4.80 to win.

WILD ENDING REPLAY

In the first division for 3-year-old filly pacers Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) grabbed her second wire-to-wire victory, winning the $14,684 Maine Sire Stake in a lifetime mark equaling 1:58.2.  Driven to a 10-1/4 length romp by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif, she is owned and was bred the Leightons.  She paid $4.00 to win.  Slight favorite La Mambacita (Campbell-Grondin) finished second; Ally Mac (Nick Graffam-Mike Graffam) was third.

KATELYN’S ANGEL REPLAY

The second division was also an unimpeded rout by South St Dottie (Western Maverick) in a well-rated 2:00.2.  Driven by Nick Graffam for trainer/father Mike Graffam, was on easy street after the favored Pickmepickme (Andy Harrington-Marc Tardif) made a costly break while giving chase in the final turn.

The Jan Donaway owned filly is heretofore undefeated in five seasonal Maine Sire Stakes events.  South St Dottie paid $4.80 to win.  Pickmepickme got back pacing and finished second; stable mate Justcallmemimi (Bruce Ranger-Graffam) was third.

SOUTH ST DOTTIE REPLAY

Three $7,000 divisions of the Portland Breakwater Trotting Series were the shining beacon for Friday’s (July 28) 13-race program at Cumberland, lighting the way for eight finalists to compete for a $10,000 final next weekend.

The first split was a wire-to-wire romp for Showme Some Muscle (Muscle Mass) who flexed his way to greater and greater lengths in front of his fellow competitors, showing the way home by 7 lengths in 1:59.3.  Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Candace Brandstatter and owner Seri Reddy, the 5-year-old picked up the twelfth win of his career, but first of the season for his new connections.

Showme Some Muscle paid $4.20 to win.  No Mo Fashion (Walter Case Jr.) finished second; Pembroke Faye (Heath Campbell) was third.

Fit Bitt exercised his right to the front end, where the 6-year-old Muscle Mass gelding was setting the tempo and keeping the rest of the field at bay.  Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer Ralph D’Amelio II, the duo received a little encouragement from second place finisher Prescott (Andy Harrington) down the lane, but ultimately prevailed in 2:01.1.

Fit Bitt is owned by Mona Dodd and paid $2.60 to win.  Pembroke Honcho (Heath Campbell) finished third.

The third and final leg was another front-end folly for Richsnortherndream (Northern Bailey) who withstood a late bid by favored Maplewood Slugger (John Nason) to score in 2:01 by a quarter length.  Driven by Walter Case Jr. for trainer James Dunn and owner Diane Dunn, the 7-year-old grabbed his first win in just two seasonal starts.  Always A Good Time finished third.

The top two finishers in each of the three legs, plus the two fastest ‘thirds’ that enter will be drawn-in to the final.

Racing resumes Saturday (July 29) with five divisions of the Spring Point Ledge series, each vying for a purse of $6,000.  Also on Saturday is the last seasonal leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.

In addition, the Maine Sires Stakes has two divisions of freshman pacing fillies, racing on the betting program.  First post time is 3:15 pm.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland