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FARMINGTON, ME – The Farmington, Maine Agricultural Fair is in full swing and harness racing is the center of attraction at the historic 181st annual event. Situated in Franklin County (Maine), Farmington has a whopping 47 properties or districts listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Live harness racing action was contested at Farmington on Sunday (Sept. 18) and Monday (Sept. 19), with several divisions of the Maine Breeders Stakes competing under sunny skies with the festive scenery of the fair midway in the background.
Several of Maine’s finest from the 3-year-old pacing colt ‘Glamour Boys’ division registered historic miles of their own.
Ugotaearnyrstripes (Deuce Seelser) took a new lifetime of 1:58 mark winning his $17,834 div. Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS) at the iconic Farmington oval.
Driven by Dave Ingraham for trainer Steve LaCasse and owner/breeder Ed Blash, Ugotaearnmyrstripes grabbed the lead from post four and never looked back. He now has $93,316 in lifetime earnings with three wins this year.
Daughtry (Ron Cushing / Heidi Gibbs) finished second; CBF Squirt Gun (Heath Campbell / David Crochere) was third.
The second $17,833 div. MSBS went to Deal With It Roman (Western Maverick), who had been a dominant force in the division early in the season, came back with determination to score in 1:59.3. Driven by Walter Case Jr. for owner / trainer / breeder Marc Tardif, Deal With It Roman now has five wins this year. His lifetime earnings have reached $113,750.
Bandolito Blaze (Heath Campbell / Valerie Grondin) finished second; Ranaldi (Cushing / Gibbs) was third.
Earlier on Sunday’s non-wagering card the $17,884 MSBS for 2-year-old trotting fillies was captured by She’salilbitmouthy (Victor Blue Chip). Driven by Mark Athearn for trainer Gretchen Athearn and owner Bill Phipps, the filly completed the circuit in 2:07.
Wild Ending (Ivan Davies) finished second; Another Adventure (Kevin Switzer Jr. / Tardif) was third.
Sunday’s lone wagering event witnessed favorite Pembroke Traveler (Pembroke Slugger) visit the winners circle in the $18,389 MSBS for freshmen male trotters.
Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, Pembroke Traveler picked up his second victory of the season for owner / breeder Bill Varney. He paid $5.80 to win, scoring in 2:05.3.
Outlawofthevalley (Switzer Jr. / Tardif) finished second from the second-tier post seven; Wabanaki (Davies) cut the mile but made a costly break at the head of the stretch and hung on for third.
Monday (Sept. 19) welcomed two $17,000-plus Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS) divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies. The early non-wagering event was captured by division star Pickmepickme (Western Maverick) who picked up her sixth win in a row.
Driven by Andy Harrington for the Tardif Taskforce, the handy filly was also bred and is owned by Marc Tardif. Completing the mile in 2:03.2, her next stop will be the rich final at Cumberland on October 1.
La Mambacita (Heath Campbell / Heidi Gibbs) finished second; Justcallmemimi (Aaron Hall / Mike Graffam) was third.
On the betting card, Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) grabbed the other $17,989 div. MSBS for frosh filly pacers in 2:04.4. Scoring from post five, she and her driver Kevin Switzer Jr., found themselves taking in some of the fresh Maine air as the pair were parked every step of the way to win by three parts of a length over South St Dottie (Dave Ingraham / Mike Graffam).
Katelyn’s Angel is trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property. She paid $3.40 to win and was bred by Lesley Leighton. Janie (Mark Athearn / Gretchen Athearn) finished third.
The Maine-bred fair racing continues Tuesday (Sept. 20) at the Franklin County oval, with two $18,000-plus MSBS divisions for 2-year-old colt pacers. Early post of 1:30 pm for the first non-wagering event.
After Farmington, harness racing returns to the Cumberland Fairgrounds from Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 for eight days of pari-mutuel action. The 150th annual Cumberland Fair and First Tracks host the Maine Breeders Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The final stop on the Pine Tree State fair circuit is historic Fryeburg, Oct 6 – 8. The Maine-sired sophomore finale returns to Bangor for all of the 3-year-old MSBS divisional finals on Oct. 15.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website.
For complete Sunday non-wagering results, click here.
For complete Sunday pari-mutuel results, click here.
For complete Monday non-wagering results, click here.
For complete Monday pari-mutuel results, click here.
by Chris Tully, for the Maine Breeders Stakes
