Around The Oval by Stan Gutkowski

Despite last week-end's climatological indifference, the Maine Sires Stakes held their finals in 20 mph winds, rain, even some of those white flakes at Scarborough Downs. Even with the unsavory meteorlogical conditions, the folks in attendance, estimated at 500-plus, wagered in excess of $100,000 live. Since Yonkers Raceway, that track in the Bronx, bets less than that "live" on a nightly basis, it indicates that harness racing fans in Maine, know and respect quality racing.

Like all finals in whatever sport, some favorites prevail, while some longshots take home the winners share. The 35th anniversary competition demonstrated that harness racing, at least in Maine, not only survives but also prospers, despite the insouciance of the weather.

In the freshman ranks, Pembroke Joe Dunn, owned by William Varney (who had at least one entrant in every leg so the finals on both days), asserted his claim as the best state-bred freshman pacing colt by outdistancing his competition in 2:01.2, coming home with a final panel of 29.2 over a racetrack slowed by inclement weather. He took home the winners share, thereby establishing himself as the early favorite for next year's sophomore competition.

On the distaff side of the ledger, Current Chip continued her mastery. Unlike her pacing counterpart, they allowed betting on the event. Sent away at odds of 1-9, this freshman daughter of Current Cast, went directly to the front, winning by two lengths for veteran trainer Don Richards (Wally Watson drove). She concludes her year undefeated, also establishing herself as the prime contender for next year's honors.

The two year-old colt trotters saw the favorite, Willin Dylan, make two breaks (one behind the gate, the other moving into contention at the three-quarter pole), allowing the second choice, Roadshow Vic to assert his superiority, drawing off by eight lengths in the time of 2:08.3.

Perhaps the most contentious division of the entire program, the freshman pacing fillies, saw Carly, part of the Mike Graffam three-pronged entry, win easily by three open lengths in 2:03.3. Once again the winner established control early and led every step of the way. Graffam's horses finished first, second and fourth.

The following afternoon saw the sophomores go to post.

Perhaps the finest performance of the week-end came from sophomore trotting colt, Bad Boy Billy. Starting from mid-pack in the full eight-horse field, Billy trotted first quarter in 30 seconds to secure command. The Gordon Corey-trained diagonal stepper finished off the competition with a 28.2 second closing panel to win in 2:00 minutes flat.

On the distaff side, the late season emergence of Thebandfromboston continued. Sent off at 1-2, the filly justified the public confidence with a wire-to-wire performance for trainer-driver Gary Mosher. Her early season nemesis, A Capella Bella, finished a scant head back in the runner-up position, after starting from the extreme outside and coming the last five-eighths of a mile overland to just miss. Possibly the best race of the week-end.

The pacing camp provided both thrills and surprises. The colts race went as projected in last week's column, when trainer mike Graffam indicated that his yet unbeaten Neutral Court would face his stiffest challenge from stablemate Signthepaige. The prediction came true, as Signthepaige secured command early, the held off his stablemate's charge to win in 1:59.3. Graffam could draw some consolation from the 75 percent of the purse money his horses secured.

The upset of the day occurred in the filly pacing final, where The Salem Witch, trained by an overjoyed Allie Hiscock, driven by Steve Mahar, returned the biggest mutuel of the week-end to the tune of $20.80. Despite the eight hole, Mahar gained an early position in fourth, then moved down the backside to win by open lengths.

Another year of stakes competition enters the record books, knowing that the 35th anniversary edition, despite the weather, produced one of the choicest competitions.

COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND
Despite last week-end's climatological indifference, the Maine Sires Stakes held their finals in 20 mph winds, rain, even some of those white flakes at Scarborough Downs. Even with the unsavory meteorlogical conditions, the folks in attendance, estimated at 500-plus, wagered in excess of $100,000 live. Since Yonkers Raceway, that track in the Bronx, bets less than that "live" on a nightly basis, it indicates that harness racing fans in Maine, know and respect quality racing. Like all finals in whatever sport, some favorites prevail, while some longshots take home the winners share. The 35th anniversary competition demonstrated that harness racing, at least in Maine, not only survives but also prospers, despite the insouciance of the weather. In the freshman ranks, Pembroke Joe Dunn, owned by William Varney (who had at least one entrant in every leg so the finals on both days), asserted his claim as the best state-bred freshman pacing colt by outdistancing his competition in 2:01.2, coming home with a final panel of 29.2 over a racetrack slowed by inclement weather. He took home the winners share, thereby establishing himself as the early favorite for next year's sophomore competition. On the distaff side of the ledger, Current Chip continued her mastery. Unlike her pacing counterpart, they allowed betting on the event. Sent away at odds of 1-9, this freshman daughter of Current Cast, went directly to the front, winning by two lengths for veteran trainer Don Richards (Wally Watson drove). She concludes her year undefeated, also establishing herself as the prime contender for next year's honors. The two year-old colt trotters saw the favorite, Willin Dylan, make two breaks (one behind the gate, the other moving into contention at the three-quarter pole), allowing the second choice, Roadshow Vic to assert his superiority, drawing off by eight lengths in the time of 2:08.3. Perhaps the most contentious division of the entire program, the freshman pacing fillies, saw Carly, part of the Mike Graffam three-pronged entry, win easily by three open lengths in 2:03.3. Once again the winner established control early and led every step of the way. Graffam's horses finished first, second and fourth. The following afternoon saw the sophomores go to post. Perhaps the finest performance of the week-end came from sophomore trotting colt, Bad Boy Billy. Starting from mid-pack in the full eight-horse field, Billy trotted first quarter in 30 seconds to secure command. The Gordon Corey-trained diagonal stepper finished off the competition with a 28.2 second closing panel to win in 2:00 minutes flat. On the distaff side, the late season emergence of Thebandfromboston continued. Sent off at 1-2, the filly justified the public confidence with a wire-to-wire performance for trainer-driver Gary Mosher. Her early season nemesis, A Capella Bella, finished a scant head back in the runner-up position, after starting from the extreme outside and coming the last five-eighths of a mile overland to just miss. Possibly the best race of the week-end. The pacing camp provided both thrills and surprises. The colts race went as projected in last week's column, when trainer mike Graffam indicated that his yet unbeaten Neutral Court would face his stiffest challenge from stablemate Signthepaige. The prediction came true, as Signthepaige secured command early, the held off his stablemate's charge to win in 1:59.3. Graffam could draw some consolation from the 75 percent of the purse money his horses secured. The upset of the day occurred in the filly pacing final, where The Salem Witch, trained by an overjoyed Allie Hiscock, driven by Steve Mahar, returned the biggest mutuel of the week-end to the tune of $20.80. Despite the eight hole, Mahar gained an early position in fourth, then moved down the backside to win by open lengths. Another year of stakes competition enters the record books, knowing that the 35th anniversary edition, despite the weather, produced one of the choicest competitions.

Around The Oval	ME Harness.com