Winter brings the heat at Farmington

Farmington, Maine …. On an unusually hot late summer afternoon in the foothills of western-Maine on Thursday (September 19), a guy named Winter took center stage when Winter Asher-Stalbaum, a twenty-year-old young gun along the state-of-Maine harness racing circuit, scored two wins and two seconds from five drives at the Farmington Fair.

The noted young teamster scored the first of his top place finishes behind Next Big Thing (Shadow Play, 1:56-$8.60), who rushed to the lead just past the half after breaking third from the gate. Next Big Thing, after ironically collaring a horse named Real Thing (Walter Case, Jr) to take the lead, drew clear in the stretch to earn a handy three-length victory at the wire.

Next Big Thing, a six-year-old, is trained by Jeffrey Deslandes for owner Reginald Duguay.

Asher-Stalbaum’s second tally came with a veteran pacer from his own roster when Itsonlyrocknroll A (Million Dollar Cam, 1:56.1-$10.80) parlayed a strategic second-over journey and a determined stretch drive into the 64th win of his career. The 13-year-old Aussie-bred, who has been on the roster of an Asher-Stalbaum family member ever since he was imported in 2015, now boasts career earnings of $559,821.

Asher-Stalbaum’s score behind Itsonlyrocknroll A also marked the young driver’s 99th win of his driving career.

In other Farmington news, A pair of elder statesmen teamed up to win both halves of the late daily double at Farmington on Thursday when 13-year-olds Itsonlyrocknroll A and Carracci Hanover (David Ingraham) teamed up to deliver a $55.20 payout for the $2 gimmick. Fittingly enough, it was Senior Citizens Day at Farmington on Thursday with seniors allowed free admission to the Fair.

In another daily double rarity, driver Kevin Switzer, Jr worked his magic early on in the program on Thursday, winning both halves of the early daily double with Always A Mystery (1:58.2-$25.20) and Golden Tree (1:59.3-$4.80) who combined to dish up a hefty $383.00 payoff to their backers.

And Touch of Character (1:55.1-$4.20) threw in the fastest mile thus far this meet, touring his hometown Farmington oval in a seasonal best clocking with driver Steven Wilson holding the lines for trainer Michael Cushing and owner Darrell Tibbetts.

Maine’s Farmington Fair meet runs daily through  Saturday (September 21) with post time each day at 2:00 P.M. It’s signal is available for offtrack and online wagering at most major platforms and brick and mortar facilities around the nation.

For complete non-wagering race results, click here: US Trotting results.

For complete pari-mutuel race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney, for Farmington Fair