Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association

10/18/2026

Maine’s sophomore finals provide thrills and chills

October 18, 2026, by Chris Tully for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

BANGOR, ME – On a brisk, but sunny autumn afternoon at Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway in Bangor, Maine, four respective $100,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes Finals on Saturday (Oct. 17) delivered some chalk and an upset in the annual culmination of Pine Tree State-bred 3-year-old trotters and pacers.

Of course, for harness racing aficionados the glamour boys division always brings the top talent to the forefront, and this year was no exception. The 1-9 favorite in the $101,168 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing c**ts and geldings, Daytoremember (Heath Campbell) scored from post two and fought for the lead with the pylon protecting Silence Ofdarkness (Kevin Switzer Jr.) into a :29 opening panel.

Stuck on the rim and pushing forward was Deuces Red (Steve Wilson) who found himself first up at the :59.3 half, with Rebel’s Revenge (Aaron Hall) enjoying that second over cover.

With the field starting to stack up behind the fading outer flow, Campbell got a few lengths separation with Daytoremember past the 1:28.2 third panel. Pocket sitting Silence Ofdarkness tried valiantly to keep up, but to no avail as the pacesetter strolled away a 5-3/4 length victor in 1:57.1.

Owned, trained and bred by Valerie Grondin, the son of Dude’s The Man returned $2.20 for his tenth win of the year and increased his seasonal bankroll to $132,168.

Nuh Uh (Andy Harrington) got up for third.

In the $101,168 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old filly pacers, the divisional leader Snowonthepines (1-5) took her usual seat at the front of the bus, however driver Kevin Switzer Jr. had to outsprint Just Delightful (2-1) and Ron Cushing who begrudgingly allowed the filly to clear into a :28 opening panel. But as track announcer Mick Sweeney succinctly noted, “she took a little bit of starch out of that one.”

Settling down a bit the lass led the field in single file formation through a :59 half before any challengers came calling. Graceofspades (Dave Ingraham) was the first to move, with Perfectly Lovely (Heath Campbell) picking up that cover as the pack moved tightly through the third turn.

With Snowonthepines on the engine into a swifter 1:28.3 third panel, and Cushing finding a seam for Just Delightful, the challenger extracted his charge from the pylons and set about reeling in the pacesetter around the final turn.

At the head of the stretch the fillies were eye to eye and wheel to wheel as the drivers prepared for battle. By mid-stretch it appeared that Snowonthepines was giving all she had, and Just Delightful had a little more, scoring by two lengths in 1:58.3.

Trained by Heidi Cushing for driver and co-owner Ron Cushing with Steve Downey and Tony and Joe Romanelli, the daughter of Western Maverick increased her seasonal earnings to $111,830. Bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, she returned $6.80 for her fifth win of the season.

Second place finisher Snowonthepines finished her Maine Sire Stakes season with 11 wins in 13 starts and $118,731 on her card for trainer Marc Tardif and owner-breeder Leighton Property.

Graceofspades was third.

In the $101,011 final for 3-year-old filly trotters, it was classic tour of the facility by leading divisional star Hayden, who went off as the heavy 1-5 favorite.

Following several aggressive miscues at the start, the mile was somewhat pedestrian as Hayden and Hall led every step of the way with Coronation Moon (Ivan Davies) sitting in the pocket through opening splits of :30 and 1:01.

Past the 1:31.3 third panel Wally Watson sent Roseapple Ave past the pocket sitter to grab second and attempt to reel in the leader.

However, Hayden would not be caught as she coasted to victory in 2:02.2 by 2-1/4 lengths.

Trained and driven by Gary Hall to a total of eleven seasonal victories, the daughter of Cantab Fashion has earned $135,647 with just a pair of uncharacteristic miscues over the long season. Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, she continued her four race winning streak, returning $2.60.

Roseapple Ave finished second; Our Last Quote (Steve Wilson) recovered from an early break to grab third.

In the $100,608 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old c**t and gelding trotters, which was held as an early non-wagering event, it was divisional point leader Wilder N Idy (Mark Athearn) who behaved behind the gate, bided his time, and overtook Gus’s Workout (Heath Campbell), who made a break while on top at the half.

Scoring by 4-1/2 lengths in 2:02.2, , Wilder N Idy is a son of To The Hilt and now has eight wins in 13 starts for trainer Gretchen Athearn and completed his stakes season with $129,579 in earnings.

Owned by Patsy Leavitt and bred by the late Mike Andrew, he now has 16 wins and $235,641 in his career.

Trottinfortreasure (Switzer Jr.) finished second; Gus’s Workout was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes finals represent the culmination of years of hard work and dedication of behalf of dozens of industry stakeholders, including, but not limited to the owners, breeders, trainers, drivers and caretakers of these equine athletes.

Not only do these horses represent a significant individual and collective investment in harness racing and agriculture in the state of Maine, but the peripheral revenue generated by the truck and trailer sales and maintenance, fuel suppliers, feed companies, hay producers, tack shops, blacksmiths, farm owners, and racetracks that give them a place to compete, generously exceeds seven figures annually.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their page , or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com

10/17/2026

Painter's Treasure driven by Andrew Harrington at Cumberland Raceway on July 10, 2026.

To learn more about the Maine Sire Stakes, visit our website: https://mainesirestakes.com/

10/16/2026

Maine 3-year-old finals set for Bangor Saturday

October 16, 2026, by Chris Tully for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo: Daytoremember)

BANGOR, ME – Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway in Bangor, Maine hosts the $400,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes Finals on Saturday (Oct. 17) with four 3-year-old Pine Tree State-bred events.

One of the highlights of the rich card will be the $101,168 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing c**ts and geldings, otherwise known as the glamour boys division.

With leading point earner Real Horrorshow not entered, the morning line favorite’s badge has been placed securely on Daytoremember (3-2, Heath Campbell) from post two.

The homebred property of trainer Valerie Grondin, the son of Dude’s The Man has established himself as the horse to beat with nine wins on the season with $81,584 earned. With Bangor considered his “home track” and sporting a 1:56.3 record over the historic Bass Park oval, Daytoremember is looking to make this Saturday his day to remember in race nine.

Of course, trainer Marc Tardif is heavily invested in the program as well and sends six entrants into this divisional final, including second choice Rebel’s Revenge (7-2, Aaron Hall), as well as Silence Ofdarkness (4-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Ghost Of Winter (7-1, Joey Mosher).

Race seven hosts the $101,168 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old filly pacers, with the previously undefeated distaff Snowonthepines looking for redemption.

Scoring from post four with Switzer Jr. in the bike, the winner of 20 of 21 races has been pegged as the 7-5 favorite. Her only lifetime loss was by a nose in her last start at Fryeburg, at the hands of Graceofspades, who drew post five with Dave Ingraham.

Snowonthepines has earned $93,439 this season and is a daughter of Dude’s The Man that is owned and was bred by Leighton Property. Likely to be the horse to watch, and perhaps catch, as the front-end favoring lass will assuredly be forwardly placed for trainer Marc Tardif.

The second choice in that division is Ron Cushing’s Just Delightful who won her last start and scores from post two.

Race five is the $101,011 final for 3-year-old filly trotters with leading divisional star Hayden the heavy favorite at 3-5 on the morning line. Trained and driven by Gary Hall to ten seasonal victories, the daughter of Cantab Fashion has earned $85,142 with just a pair of uncharacteristic miscues over the long season. Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, she brings a three race winning streak into the lucrative final.

The second choice at 6-1 is Our Last Quote from the Sherry Cushing stable, who has a pair of wins in her last four starts. Steve Wilson gets the call.

The $100,608 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old c**t and gelding trotters is slated for 2:45 pm, as a non-wagering event shall be held before the regular betting card, which pits the two top horses in the division against one another for one final battle.

Wilder N Idy (Mark Athearn) leads the point standings by just 20 points over Gus’s Workout (Heath Campbell), with the pair trading punches over the summer and fall season.

A son of To The Hilt, Wilder N Idy has seven wins in 12 outings for trainer Gretchen Athearn and boasts $74,245 in seasonal earnings. Bred by the late Mike Andrew, the gelding sometimes goes off stride behind the gate, and did so in his last start at Fryeburg. He scores from pylon position, and will need to be on his best behavior for this main event.

In the other corner is Gus’s Workout, a son of Whataworkout that has five wins and six seconds in his dozen seasonal starts, earning $71,471. Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, he brings form and consistency into this bout. With three wins in his last five starts, he is handy enough to control the tempo, and surefooted enough to get the job done.

The Maine Sire Stakes finals represent the culmination of years of hard work and dedication of behalf of dozens of industry stakeholders, including, but not limited to the owners, breeders, trainers, drivers and caretakers of these equine athletes.

Not only do these horses represent a significant individual and collective investment in harness racing and agriculture in the state of Maine, but the peripheral revenue generated by the truck and trailer sales and maintenance, fuel suppliers, feed companies, hay producers, tack shops, blacksmiths, farm owners, and racetracks that give them a place to compete, generously exceeds seven figures annually.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their page , or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

The 3 Year Old Finals draw will be live here on FB at noon tomorrow, Tuesday October 13th!!

10/12/2026

The current, and final, point standings going into the rich 3-year-old Maine Sire Stakes finals on Saturday, October 17 at Bangor Raceway.

10/10/2026

Hayden takes tenth Maine Trot at Fryeburg

October 10, 2026, by Chris Tully, for Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

FRYEBURG, ME – The final leg of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters went postward at the famous Fryeburg Fair on Friday (October 9) with two $16,000-plus divisions of the high stepping action.

The only $17,711 pari-mutuel race for sophomore trotters was captured by divisional star Hayden who protected her position at the top of her class with another wire-to-wire romp with trainer-driver Gary Hall in the sulky.

Scoring from the outermost post seven the daughter of Cantab Fashion made every call a winning one to secure the victory by 3-3/4 lengths in 2:03.1. A winner of ten races this season she has earned $131,596 lifetime for owner-breeder Stephen Hall.

Hayden returned $3.00 as the 1-2 favorite. Roseapple Ave (Wally Watson) finished second; I Think I Can (John Nason) was third.

In an early, $16,783 non-wagering event for 3-year-old c**t and gelding trotters, it was Gus’s Workout who led every step of the way to score in 2:01.2.

Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin and owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, the son of Whataworkout grabbed his fifth win of the season, increasing his career total to $123,823.

Trottinfortreasure (Ron Cushing) finished second; Wilder N Idy (Mark Athearn) was third.

The series concludes with the $320,000-plus Sophomore Finals, which take place at Bangor Raceway on the following Saturday (Oct. 17).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

10/09/2026

Graceofspades hands Snowonthepines her first defeat

October 9, 2026 -- by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

FRYEBURG, ME – Maine’s previously unbeaten 3-year-old pacing filly Snowonthepines finally tasted defeat on Thursday (October 8), at the Fryeburg Fair, falling from grace by a whisker to Graceofspades.

It happened on an otherwise normal fair racing day in the first $17,209 division for sophomore distaff pacers, held before the regular card.

Snowonthepines, with her 20 race win streak on the line, was sent to the top in the traditional manner by regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. Posting moderate early fractions of :30 and 1:01.4, the daughter of Dude’s The Man had Ekorus (Joey Mosher) in the pocket behind her with Graceofspades and Dave Ingraham sitting in third.

Moving into the 1:33 third panel Ingraham sent the daughter of Western Maverick first over and had sprinted up right alongside the pacesetter, and as the pair turned for home they were eye to eye, and wheel to wheel.

The battle ensued down the length of the stretch with Graceofspaces posting a faster :28.1 final quarter to prevail by a nose in 2:01.2 over Snowonthepines.

Bred, owned and trained by Fred Ward Jr. and Sharon Ward, it was the filly’s first lifetime victory, and a new lifetime best time badge. A full sister to former Maine champion Gowestyounggrace p,1:52f ($285,734), it was her 24th lifetime start, where she has been second or third 13 times.

Ekorus finished third.

In the second $17,209 non-betting division it was a wire-to-wire romp by Just Delightful who won by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2.

Driven and co-owned by Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Cushing and partners S. Downey and A. & J. Romanelli, the daughter of Western Maverick grabbed her fourth win of the season. She was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Dudelookslikeafily (Aaron Hall) finished second; Perfectly Lovely (Switzer Jr.) was third.

Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes concludes at Fryeburg with the 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 9). The series culminates with the $320,000-plus Sophomore Finals, which take place at Bangor Raceway on the following Saturday (Oct. 17).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

10/08/2026

Maine’s Glamour Boys fly through Fryeburg

October 8, 2026, by Chris Tully, for Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

FRYEBURG, ME – Two $17,000-plus divisions of 3-year-old pacing c**ts and geldings in the Maine Sire Stakes soared through the Fryeburg Fair Blue Ribbon Classic on Wednesday (October 8) in their final prep races before the lucrative Pine Tree State-bred finals a few weeks away.

The battle for supremacy amongst the “Glamour Boys” has continued between Daytoremember and freshmen champion Real Horrorshow, w¬¬¬ho recently took the point lead. ¬¬Once again, they drew into separate divisions, thus each c**t was able to equally advance their own agenda.

In the first $17,209 division for sophomore male pacers, a non-wagering event, Daytoremember rolled unfettered to the top and led the sidesteppers through an opening station of :29.3, with a more modest 1:01.1 half. With no challenges in sight, Silence Ofdarkness (Kevin Switzer Jr.) remained in the pocket.

Past the half, the first to tip was Itsjustmoney (Andy Harrington) who advanced from fifth to third by the time the field hit the third panel in 1:31.3. Nonetheless, they couldn’t catch Campbell and Daytoremember as the pair gained separation through the final turn and scooted down the lane to win by three lengths in 2:00.3.

The son of Dude’s The Man is owned, trained and was bred by Valerie Grondin, and picked up his ninth seasonal victory with $132,274 earned lifetime. Daytoremember skipped the last leg at the Cumberland Fair in lieu of the Massachusetts Breeders Stakes, and thus moved into second place in the point standings.

Silence Ofdarkness sat a pocket trip to retain second; Ghost Of Winter (Joey Mosher) finished third.

In the second $17,434 division it was another standard wire-to-wire frolic by Real Horrorshow and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. Leaving swiftly to grab the lead, the son of Dude’s The Man set opening fractions of :30.2 and a tempo reducing 1:02.2. Past the half, Dude’s The Jet (Joey Mosher) pulled the right line from fourth and moved first over with Deuces Red (Steve Wilson) tipping three wide down the backside into a 1:32 third panel.

Switzer Jr. still had Real Horrorshow on point with Rebel’s Revenge (Aaron Hall) retaining his pocket position through the final turn and down the stretch. With the pocket sitter advancing, the wire arrived just in time and the pacesetter prevailed by three parts of a length in 2:01.

Capturing his ninth win of the season, and 18th of his career, Real Horrorshow, increased his lifetime earnings to $186,204 and is now the leading point earner in his division. Trained by the senior Kevin Switzer, who also co-owns with Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., he was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum.

Nuh Uh (Andy Harrington) finished third.

Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes continues at Fryeburg with the 3-year-old filly pacers on Thursday (Oct. 8), followed by the 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 9). The series culminates with the $320,000-plus Sophomore Finals, which take place at Bangor Raceway on the following Saturday (Oct. 17).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

10/08/2026

Dont miss the Draw!!!

ATTENTION!!!! Saturday cards at Bangor Raceway this Fall will be drawn on TUESDAYS. DO NOT MISS THE DRAWS!!!