Pickmepickme leads Maine Sire Stakes

CUMBERLAND, ME – Saturday’s (June 17) Cumberland harness racing card features two $14,684 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies, and leading the way is freshman filly pacing champion Pickmepickme (Western Maverick) from the powerful Marc Tardif stable.

With 8 wins in 10 starts and earnings of $89,265, the filly was a dominant force among the frosh sidesteppers last season for owner and breeder Tardif.  Never worse than third in her entire career, she amassed an impressive 34-length combined margin of victory in her last seven romps.

Named after a youngster named Lauren who frequented the Tardif stable, at age five she always wanted to be picked up by Marc Tardif.  As soon as she saw Tardif she would exclaim, ‘pick me, pick me.’  Suffering from some serious medical issues, and somewhat smaller in size due to the condition, she loved to be picked up and carried around to visit with all the horses in the barn.

As she grew older her summers were highlighted by visits to the Tardif stable where she always had a pony, some rabbits, and any other critters that she could fuss over.  Over time, everyone around the close-knit Maine harness racing community would take turns looking after Lauren while the Tardif Taskforce was busy racing.  She would visit the judge’s booth, the photo stand, hang out on the apron, anywhere that she could see the horses and be with horse people.

“She is the granddaughter of some of our close friends,” noted Peggy and Marc Tardif.  “All she ever wants is to be at the barn with the horses, so we always welcome her any chance we get.”

With her condition improved, the filly with the name that she created, Pickmepickme, gives Lauren another reason to smile.

The Maine Sire Stakes events are programed as races one and nine on the regular program.   In the ninth race, the Tardif Taskforce sends out both Pickmepickme (Andy Harrington, 4-5), who scores from pylon position and Katelyn’s Angel (Kevin Switzer Jr., 9-5) from post 4.

The first division in the opener lists the early morning line favorite as La Mambacita (Western Maverick) at 7-5.  Driven by Heath Campbell and trained by Valerie Grondin, the filly comes off of a 1:56.3 second place finish at Plainridge on June 6.  She was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and is owned by Scott McKenzie.

There are also two entries from the Mike Graffam stable, with the second choice being South St Dottie (Western Maverick) at 2-1 from post 3.  Driven by Nick Graffam, the filly earned $43,376 last season with a victory at Windsor Fair.   They also send out Ally Mac (6-1, post 5) who will get the services of Kevin Switzer Jr. who is just 3 wins away from 3,000 career victories.

First post is 3:15 pm at Cumberland Raceway.

Two divisions of ‘Learn and Earn’ baby races will be held before Friday’s card starting at 1:15 pm.  The races go for $200 each and give the youngsters a chance to get behind the gate before their freshmen Maine Sire Stakes divisions start in earnest in early July.

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

For complete race entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes