Scarborough, Maine – July 19, 2018 … The Maine Sire Stakes opened a weekend long engagement at Scarborough Downs on Thursday (7/19) as the three-year-old filly pacing division, divided into twin splits, anchored a well received 8-race harness racing twilight program.
The opening stakes division saw Little Honey Badger bolting alertly off the car in a valiant attempt at gaining early supremacy. The David Ingraham piloted entry was immediately met with substantial gate speed to her inside though which forced her driver to abort the early takeoff maneuver and rein the filly back to third.
And third they sat as the favored Pembroke Passionly (Heath Campbell) cut the mile with the well regarded JustCallMeDee (Mark Athearn) claiming the pocket seat, and single file style these three raced past the quarter pole marker.
As they turned for home though, the battle that was aborted at the start of the race was renewed with great vigor, and the three principles fanned across the raceway as the finish line came into view. Little Honey Badger deftly snuck off the pylon path as she vaulted past her early vanquishers, gliding to a hand-driven lifetime best 2:01.1 speed record in only the second winner's circle appearance of her career.
The sophomore daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood-Terri I Fra, owned and trained by Michael Graffam of Falmouth, Maine, claimed the lion's share of the $10,831 purse while returning a generous $27.40 win price to the fans.
JustCallMeDee held steady at the wire to secure the brides-mare share while Pembroke Passionly faded back to third.
The $10,830 second division featured a rematch between a pair of fillies who had finished first and second to each other in two of their 2018 sire stakes appearances. Cab Bearnaise (Mitchell Cushing), a two-time stakes winner this season had bested Shes A Maverick (John Nason) in her sophomore debut, only to experience the taste of defeat, courtesy of her rival, in their very next match-up.
Living up to expectations, the battle was joined immediately, with the gloves coming off as soon as the starter released the field. Cab Bearnaise, holding the inside edge over her rival, was hustled on to the early lead only to be hounded to the quarter mile marker by Shes A Maverick who paced through a torrid 28.1 panel while aired to quarter.
Despite a perfunctory challenge up the backstretch and an attempt to rally through the lane, Cab Bearnaise's fate was sealed after that opening salvo as Shes A Maverick stepped off to a lifetime equaling 1:59 clocking, en route to a 2-1/2 length margin of victory.
Shes A Maverick, a daughter of Western Maverick-Fiber Art, is trained by John Nason for owner Carolyn Corso of Henderson, Nevada.
Cab Bearnaise, by finishing second, continued her mastery of the pari-mutuels with her 4th on the board placing this season. Where Does Time Go (David Ingraham) rode the pylons to grab the show dough.
Maine Sire Stakes action will be featured all weekend long at Scarborough Downs with the 2-year-old colt pacing division gracing the seaside oval on Saturday, one day before their sophomore older brothers take over center stage on Sunday.
Scarborough Downs will proudly feature live harness racing on Thursday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or visit our Facebook page.
by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs