The 2012 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes season came to a close tonight at Bangor Raceway as two divisions of the 3 year old consolation races were held on a drizzly night. Both races went for a $24,700 purse.

The three year old filly pacers saw the rail-sitting favorite Sheeza Ring (Gary Hall) hold off a determined Boy Crazy (Kevin Switzer, Jr) as the field headed into the first turn. It was a classic Hall maneuver, get the front and slow down the pace, and it looked like it may work as Sheeza Ring held the lead past the three quarter pole, cutting out fractions of 28.4, 59.0, and 1:29.1.

Boy Crazy pulled from the garden spot after the three quarter pole to challenge and took the lead at the head of the stretch, but Onetonine (Ron Cushing) was coming three wide and the two battled down the stretch, with Onetonine hitting the finish line first by a neck.

Cushing had traffic problems for most of the mile, but was confident. “ I knew if I could get out and get some racing room, I had a shot at the win” he said after the race.

It was the filly’s first win of the stakes season and a lifetime best of 2:01.0 for owners John Korhonen and Stephen Lancaster and trainer Charlene Cushing.

B Thea One (Heath Campbell) was third, Nicki Doodle(Wallace Watson) got up for fourth and Sheeza Ring held on for fifth place money.

The three year old colt division saw early speed off the gate from Made of Iron (Campbell) who took the lead until the eighth pole when Denver Cyclone(Watson) challenged and assumed the lead, going to the quarter pole in 28.3. Imprudent Speed (Gary Mosher) came first up at the 3/8th pole and took the lead at the half in 1:01.3.

Mosher put the pedal to the metal, cutting out at 27.3 third quarter to put some distance between him and the rest of the field. Penney’s Spirit was the only challenger at the head of the stretch, but it wasn’t enough as Imprudent Speed crossed the wire first in a lifetime mark of 2:00.1.

Owner/trainer Billy Childs was elated after the race. “This horse had been getting seconds and thirds all season. This proved that the consolation races are successes as it lets the second tier of colts get some glory.”

Mac’s Pride (Cushing) was third, Made of Iron held on for fourth and Let It Ring (Shawn Thayer) was fifth.

The curtain falls on the stakes season that saw 151 different starters race for purses in excess of $2.5 million. Some of the graduates will be sold to outside interests, but for the most part they will be seen competing in overnight events here in Maine. Some of the stars of this season will be competing in the top classes at Scarborough and Bangor, which was the intent of the sire stakes program back in 1972, when they were established.