Grondin sweeps Maine Sire Stakes at Fryeburg

FRYEBURG, ME – Harness racing trainer Valerie Grondin swept the Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore trotters at the Fryeburg Fair on Saturday (October 5) as the popular and well-attended meet comes to a close.

The first division for 3-year-old trotting fillies was captured by divisional leader Pembroke Breeze (Pembroke Slugger), who took command early and never looked back.  The filly cruised through moderate fractions to score by 3-1/4 lengths in 2:03.2.  Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, it was the talented filly’s seventh win in nine starts for owner and breed Bill Varney.

The early non-wagering race carried a purse of $19,708.  Bernie’s Legacy (Dave Ingraham) finished second; My Saving Grace (Mark Athearn) was third.

The boys were up next for a three-horse race with a similar purse, where driver Drew Campbell got the drive back aboard Chipper Dale (Shake It Off Lindy), who also made every call a winning one.  Sprinting away from the field to win by 5-1/2 lengths in 2:03.3, he is trained by Valerie Grondin for owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Carrabasset (Mark Athearn) finished second; Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) was third.

The previous afternoon (Oct. 4) witnessed Two Fold Cold (Kevin Switzer Jr.) grab his 11^th straight win of his career, holding off the late charge of Whats For Suppaah (Aaron Hall) to win by a neck in a pedestrian 2:01.

He is owned and trained by Marc Tardif and was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.

That division of 3-year-old pacing colts and gelding went for a purse of $19,691, as did the other split captured by Hesjustadelight by a head in 1:58.4.

Driven by co-owner Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Cushing and partners Lynn-Marie Plouffe (breeder) and Anthony & Joseph Romanelli, the son of Western Maverick picked up his third victory of the year.

Just Call Me Buck (Heath Campbell) finished a close second; Arts Flight (Andy Harrington) was third by a neck.

The final seasonal races for all of these Pine Tree State-bred Standardbreds are four divisions of the 3-year-old Maine Sire Stakes Finals, which will be held at Bangor Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 12).

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

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes