Age is just a number as Ingraham lands hat-trick

Fryeburg, Maine … David Ingraham ably proved that age is indeed just a number as the 64-year-old veteran teamster, the winner of 8056 lifetime contests, spun a cagily crafted hat trick performance during the Thursday (October 8) card at the Fryeburg Fair, and highlighting Ingraham’s three-peat performance, was a strategically brilliant masterpiece behind the aptly named pacer, Age Is A Number .

Leaving insistently from the rail, Ingraham protected his inside advantage by repelling an early aggressive move from Ultimate Flyer N (Timothy Hudson), who remained pinned to the outside rim which ultimately forced a three-wide move by Yes Oui Si (Kevin Switzer, Jr) at the half. 

Ingraham then used the once moved Yes Oui Si as a blocker, keeping the rest of the field placed exactly where he desired, and enabling Age Is A Number to sprint clear as the field approached the head of the stretch. 

Twice glancing over his shoulder as he entered the lane, perhaps to admire his handiwork, or perhaps just to ensure that he was home free, Ingraham and Age Is A Number scooted unabated to the wire, stopping the clock in a strategy tempered 2:02.1, while returning a generous $5.80 to win.

Trained by Michael Bilodeau for owner Marilyn Martell, the ten-year-old daughter of Vintage Master recorded her second win of the season and 24th of her career, with both 2026 wins featuring David Ingraham in the drivers seat. 

Ingraham’s other wins came in nail biting fashion as he posted a major upset with Graceofspades (2:01.2, NB), narrowly defeating the hence undefeated Snowonthepines (Kevin Switzer, Jr) in a $17,209 Maine Sire Stakes split. 

Then, in similar, hold your breath fashion, he commanded Odds On Fastball (2:01.2, $2.80) to steadfastly persevere over Sassenach (McGwire Sowers), and like the win with Graceofspades, both of these victories were charted by the official margin of a nose but in actuality, both wins materialized by less than a whisker apiece. 

Ever the master of strategy, spacial placing, pace and style, Ingraham remains a major factor along raceways of New England.

In other Fryeburg Fair news, Sowers matched Ingraham in the win column with three top tallies of his own, and rookie pilot, Lindsey Weir, scored her first career driving win behind Rojas Blue Chip (2:01.3, $14.40), in only her fourth lifetime appearance in the sulky. 

Racing resumes on Friday(October 9) at Fryeburg with a 10-race wagering program set to commence at 1:30 pm (EDT). Maine Sire Stakes racing will proceed the main card when the sophomore trotting colts match strides in a $16,000 non-wagering event at 1:00 pm.

For the complete schedule at the Fryeburg Fair, please visit www.fryeburgfair.org

The live video feed of all the harness racing action at Fryeburg Fair can be enjoyed online at www.youtube.com/@Mainefairharnessracing , programs may be found at www.trackmaster.com , while wagering for the races at Fryeburg will be available on track, at Maine’s OTB network, and online on the Hollywood Races site at www.hollywoodraces.com

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney for Fryeburg Fair