A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered at Scarborough Downs on Sunday to witness to the crowning of the 2-year-old Champions of the Maine Sire Stakes program. Over $250,000 in purse money was on the line in this, the richest day yet of harness racing in the State of Maine.

One Little Star wasted little time in declaring that upsets may well be the order of the day as the 2-year-old daughter of War Paint, making only her second career start, upset the undefeated Pembroke Picture, who made a costly misstep just moments after the start. One Little Star capitalized on that miscue throwing in a faultless performance, driving hard to the wire to secure the lion’s share of the $57,371 purse, stopping the clock in a lifetime best of 2:06.3.

“When I saw Pembroke Picture go off stride, I thought all I had to do was keep her trotting and I’d have a chance,” said trainer/driver Kevin Switzer. “I’ve got to thank my wife, Dr. Denise McNitt -- this filly came to us with a pretty serious injury, and through her hard work we were able to get her to the races just in time.”

One Little Star is owned and was bred by George Bullukian of Franklin, Massachusetts. A Vicious Woman (Gary Hall) finished second and Speedy Sandpiper (Kim Ireland) was third.

The Don Richard’s-trained entry of Current Crisis and Bank Bailout, proved too much for the rest of the field as Current Crisis strode with determination to the wire to claim victory in the $57,338 colt trotting division final in a lifetime best of 2:03.4. Mark Athearn drove for long-time state of Maine owners, Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight. Dillon remarked following the race, “It’s fun to breed horses. I just have fun doing all aspects of this sport. Current Cast, the sire of this trotter, was meant to be a good horse, and he’s gone on now to become a great sire in the state.”

St. Croix Boy (Leigh Fitch) was second, and Bank Bailout (Don Richards) was third.

Denver Cyclone proved much the best in the $57,594 colt pacing final, taking the lead and never looking back en route to a brand new track record of 1:57.3. Shawn Gray, catch driving for regular pilot Wally Watson, who remains sidelined and is recuperating from injuries sustained at the Skowhegan Fair, remarked after the race, “He’s a nice little horse. You can do whatever you want with him. He’s a natural.”

“He’s the nicest horse that I’ve ever had anything to do with,” said trainer Wally Watson. ”You show him one thing once, and he gets it, immediately. It’s like dealing with a five-year-old.”

Denver Cyclone is owned and bred by Alfred Ross of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Jimmy Whizbang (Greg Bowden) was second, and Lollipop Kid (Shane Taggart) was third.

Royal Knockout delivered the one-two punch in the $57,466 filly pacing final with driver/trainer Michael Graffam cruising around the oval in gate-to-wire fashion, stopping the clock in a lifetime best of 1:59.4.

“I knew she could get off the gate pretty good after that Skowhegan mile,” said Graffam, “so for me, the plan was to go to the front, and don’t look back.” Harness racing is first and foremost a family affair when it comes to the Graffam Stable, and Mike’s Grandmother, Ruth Norton celebrated with the family in the Winner’s Circle ceremony. “I thought that was a wonderful race for Mike and for Knockout,” she remarked. “He was the perfect horse for the day.”

Royal Knockout, the daughter of Ashlee’s Big Guy is owned by the consortium of Michael Graffam, William Arnold and Richard Shaw. Magically (Gary Mosher) was second and Ashlee’s Cool Gal (Mark Athearn) was third.

The Sire Stakes championships brought down the curtain on the 2011 summer meet. The Downs now takes a one-month hiatus, and live racing returns on Friday, October 14th with a post time of 12:05 with live racing on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays at 12:05 until December 18th.