The only thing hotter than the weather this past week was Shawn Gray, as the South Gardiner native turned impressive performances as both a trainer and a driver. 

Last weekend the Gray stable swept both of the features at Scarborough Downs. On Saturday night Gray won the $3,700 top class pace when he guided Gaetan Cloutier and Mary Jane Parker’s Sam Francisco Ace to victory. On Sunday afternoon he returned to the Scarborough winner’s circle in another premier event, the weekly feature for fillies and mares. With Gray in the bike Twin B Candy, owned by Scott Brewer of West Gardiner, defeated that class for the sixth time at Scarborough already this season. Gray has now moved into the top spot in the Scarborough Downs trainer standings, while inching closer to the top of the driving ranks.

Tuesday afternoon at Plainridge Racecourse Gray capped off a successful few days, catch driving Powerhouse Sahbra to the fastest mile of the season at the Massachusetts track. The 1:52.1 effort is also the fastest driving victory in Gray’s career. Powerhouse Sahbra is owned by Ray Clukey of Waterville and is trained by Augusta’s Jamie Gerard. 

Sam Francisco Ace and Gray will be part of Saturday night’s feature race at Scarborough. The field includes Leave It To Walter, Woodmere Fulatrix, Shady Sequel and of particular note, Arts Planet. Tom Dillon and Walter Hight’s Arts Planet has not been defeated in any of his four starts in Maine this season.

After getting underway last Sunday with a single leg, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes season kicks into high gear this weekend. Both Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs will host sire stake action, and fans will get their first opportunity to see this year’s freshman pacers. 

Two divisions of three-year-old pacing fillies are scheduled for Friday evening at Bangor. Each division will be contested for a purse of $5,576, and the two most successful in this group last season, Baton and Blond Moment, drew into the same field. However that group also includes My Girl Connie and Queen of Pembroke, impressive winners in their own right already in 2005. Friday’s program at Bangor also includes two opening round divisions of the Marshall Crandall Memorial series for fillies and mares. 

On Saturday night three-year-old trotters take center stage at Bangor, with a leg for fillies and a leg for colts on the card. The Owen Davies Stable sends a streaking horse to post in each event. In the $4,435 division for fillies Special Move puts her undefeated streak on the line, having won all six of her starts as a two-year-old. In the $6,069 division for colts and geldings, Another Judge makes his first start of the 2005 season.  He won his final five races in 2004, including the final at Scarborough. Saturday’s Bangor card also features the second leg of the Arnold Stanhope Memorial Pacing Series. 

On Sunday the sire stake action moves south to Scarborough, which hosts divisions for both two and three-year-old colt pacers. Sunday’s leg will be the first starts of the season for the two-year-olds. 

Also this weekend, Kim Ireland hits the road with the two-year-old trotter Kerogen. Ultra impressive in a baby race and an overnight event at Bangor, the son of Lindy Lane is scheduled to race Friday evening at The Meadows outside of Pittsburgh. Kerogen drew the rail in a $30,766 Pennsylvania Sire Stake event, which can be seen at off track betting outlets throughout Maine. 

Post time at Bangor is at 7:30 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, and at 1:30 P.M. on Sunday.  Bangor will also host a special card on Monday July 4^th, with post time scheduled at 6:30 P.M.  Scarborough Downs will go to post at 7:00 P.M. Friday and Saturday evening, and at 3:30 P.M. on Sunday