Trotting Twister touches down in Topsham

TOPSHAM, ME – Another tornado of trotting bloodstock was spotted along the I-95 corridor as every harness racing division of Maine-bred trotters spun into the Topsham Fair on Wednesday (Aug. 6) afternoon, with six $11,000-plus splits of the Maine Sire Stakes for the 2- and 3-year-old diagonally gaited groups.

In the $11,851 featured 3-year-old male trot, Liberty’s Wildcard (4/5, Kevin Switzer Jr.), made no attempts to hide from the storm.  The seasonally undefeated son of Noble Venture went right to the top from pylon position and continued to display his divisional dominance with a 2-1/4 length score in 2:05.1.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, it was his sixth consecutive victory.  He was bred by Jerry Stratton Jr. and paid $3.60.  Katahdin Victory (Wally Watson) finished second; Just Foolin (Heath Campbell) was third.

In the $11,699 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies that was held on the pari-mutuel card, Barbella redeemed her uncharacteristic miscue from last week to further cement her standing atop the leaderboard.

Scoring from the outside post five, driver Bruce Ranger employed a European-style overland trip to secure the victory.  Sitting on the outside through the entire last half, the daughter of Whataworkout inched up closer and closer to the lead to prevail by a head in 2:04.3.

Trained by Ken Anderson for owner Robert Zakian, it was Barbella’s fourth win of the season.  She paid $4.60 and was bred by the late Mike Andrew.  Race Me Bombshell (Drew Campbell) finished second; Lady Lake Marty (Wally Watson) was third.

In the other $11,473 division for sophomore trotting fillies, which was held before the regular card, it was Pandemic Princess (Heath Campbell) who overcame going off-stride behind the gate to rally and win by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:05.

Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner / breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, the daughter of Whataworkout picked up her third win of the season despite her continuous gait-maintaining challenges.  Katahdin Mistress (Wally Watson) finished second; Little Shot (Ivan Davies) was third.

The juvenile Pine Tree State-bred trotters were also featured at Topsham’s full day of racing, with all divisions of freshman trotters going post ward before and during the regular wagering card.

While some punters have been overheard exclaiming, ‘betting on 2-year-old trotting fillies is like playing Russian roulette with money,’ the tote board appeared to be very confident in one particular entrant in the $11,429 Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Coronation Moon was sent off at 3-5 as the public’s choice for trainer / driver Ivan Davies.  When the wings folded the daughter of Cantab Fashion had put seven lengths between her and the rest of the field before they hit the quarter pole.  Although she kept her would-be challengers well in check, Coronation Moon rolled to a 5-3/4 length victory in a pedestrian 2:11.3.

Owned and co-bred by Owen Davies (with Catherine Davies), it was her second win in three lifetime outings.  She returned $3.40 for the accomplishment.

The other $11,429 for freshman trotting fillies went to Pembroke Lady, who danced to a new lifetime best in 2:06.3, and secured her fourth consecutive stakes victory.

Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin and owner Brenda Varney, the daughter of Pembroke Slugger was bred in Maine by the late Bill Varney.  Our Last Quote (Steve Wilson) finished second; Nobella (Ken Watson) was third in this non-wagering event.

Speaking of four-in-a-row winners, Wilder N Idy continued to govern with authority in his $11,391 freshman colt district, winning by 5-3/4 lengths in 2:07.2.

Driven in this non-bettor by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Patrick Leavitt, the son of Cantab Fashion was bred by the late Mike Andrew.

Gus’s Workout (Heath Campbell) finished second; Trottinfortreasure (Switzer Jr.) was third.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week at Topsham Fair, the 3-year-old male pacers race on Thursday (Aug. 7), and then the 2-year-old filly pacers close out the series on Saturday (Aug. 9).  Next week, the Maine Sire Stakes slides up to Skowhegan with the freshman pacing colts on Monday (Aug. 11) and sophomore filly pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 12).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our 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