A sophomore trotter and a veteran pacer will put their respective undefeated streaks on the line this coming Saturday evening at Scarborough Downs. 

On Saturday evening Scarborough hosts the second leg of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake for both three-year-old trotting fillies and trotting colts. In the division for fillies, Special Move will go to post having yet to suffer a defeat in her career. Owned by Doug Hutchins of Lyman, Maine and Paul Kinnear of Staten Island, New York, Special Move won her initial start of the 2005 season last week in the first MSBS leg of the season last Saturday at Bangor. In doing so, the daughter of Moving Forward picked right up where she left off in 2004, when she won six races in as many starts. Owen Davies is the filly’s trainer. 

The Davies stable was also perfect last Saturday at Bangor, as Another Judge won the other MSBS event on the card, for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. It was the sixth consecutive win dating back to last season for Another Judge. Both Special Move and Another Judge start in the MSBS races scheduled for Saturday at Scarborough, which are non-wagering events to be held during the race card.  

In the feature race of the week last Saturday evening at Scarborough, Arts Planet remained undefeated in Maine this season, when he won his sixth race of 2005 in as many local appearances. Despite spending much of the mile on the outside, Arts Planet and pinch-hitting driver Mark Athearn wore down the competition to prevail in 1:57.4, and establish a seasonal mark for the seven-year-old son of Artsplace. Tom Dillon of Anson, and Walter Hight of Skowhegan own Arts Planet, while Don Richards, who will be back in the sulky this week, trains the pacer.  

Arts Planet’s undefeated streak will be put on the line in Scarborough’s feature race this Saturday, when he will be part of a field that includes three pacers visiting the Downs that have been racing elsewhere. The Bartlett Stable’s Morty returns from Bangor, where he had a win and a second in two starts. Also returning from Bangor is Bill Varney’s Jates Skyhawk, who enters this week’s contest with three straight victories. Elegant Dreams, owned by the Maine Prime Time Stable of Monmouth, makes his Scarborough debut off a 1:54.2 win at Rockingham. 

Scarborough Downs also plays host to Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake action on Friday, with a pair of divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies, and a single division comprised of two-year-old pacing fillies. Friday’s race is the first leg of the 2005 season for the freshman fillies. Scarborough hosts the two trotting events on Saturday, and then the stake action heads north to Bangor on Sunday, where legs for both two and three-year-old pacing colts will be held. 

Bangor’s Late Closing schedule continues this weekend. On Friday a pair of divisions of the Marshall Crandall Memorial Pacing Series go postward. In last week’s opening round, the two divisions actually produced three winners. Shurfine Bailycate and Lady Katie ended up in a dead heat in the first contest, while Diamond’s Destiny was an easy winner in the second. On Sunday afternoon, the final of the William Turner Memorial Trot will share the spotlight with the return of the sire stakes to Bangor. 

Maine’s richest overnight race of the week takes place at Bangor Saturday night, when six pacers vie for a purse of $4,000 in a Winners Over $10,000 Lifetime event. Reggie Dugay’s Black Tie Only, a five time winner already this season, headlines the field. 

Post time at Bangor is at 7:30 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, and at 1:30 P.M. on Sunday.

Scarborough Downs goes to post at 7:00 P.M. Friday and Saturday evening, and at 3:30 P.M. on Sunday.