Scarborough, Maine – September 10, 2017 … The three year old colt pacing division of the Maine Sire Stakes program headlined the harness racing card as the summer meet at Scarborough Downs came to its conclusion on Sunday (9/10). The field, reduced to five starters, went to post for a purse of $10,328
Princeoftheforest continued his late summer dominance in the class as he posted his third win in a row with driver/trainer Kevin Switzer calling the shots form the sulky. Idling in the outer flow while the early speed horses jostled for position, Switzer powerfully rifled his charge to a commanding lead just past the quarter pole, a lead which ultimately extended out to 5-3/4 lengths as the clocked proclaimed 1:57.1 at the wire.
Princeoftheforest, a son of Baron Biltmore out of the stakes champion mare Barbra Ann, is owned in partnership by KDK Standardbreds and Anthony Sivik, Jr.
Mic Woodrow (D. Campbell) finished second while Primos Last Rodeo (D. Ingraham) rallied late from last to third.
While stakes racing stole the closing day headlines, the real stories of the day belonged to driver Drew Campbell and trainer Ryan Abel who both pieced together five win efforts during the final Scarborough Downs performance of the summer season.
Campbell, the meet's leading driver, is in the midst of one of his finest seasons, boasting over twice as many wins as his closest competitor at the Downs this year and is now well within reach of recording his 4500th career victory in the coming weeks.
Abel, the meet's top rated trainer, sent five horses to the post on Sunday with all five earning winner's circle photo sessions, including the mare Lady Spartacus, whom Abel drove himself.
Live harness racing at Scarborough Downs will resume on Saturday October 15 on a twice weekly schedule, featuring Saturday and Sunday matinees with a 1:30 post time. Opening Day of the fall meet will feature the three-year-old Finals of the Maine Sire Stakes program, Maine's biggest day of harness racing of the season, with purses slated to be in excess of $300,000.
For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or visit our Facebook page.
By Michael Sweeney for Scarborough Downs