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RELEASE: Mainetrotters scoot thru Skowhegan
<<< forImmediate Release >>>
CUTLINE: (1). Barbellacontinues to flourish in Maine; (2) Whatawonder got his groove back atSkowhegan. (Hollianne Niles photos)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<-------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maine trottersscoot thru Skowhegan
August 16, 2025, byChris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Hollianne Nilesphotos)
SKOWHEGAN,ME – Six$16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2- and 3-year old trottersscampered through the Skowhegan State Fair on Friday (Aug. 15) with several ofthe diagonally gaited set taking new records in the process.
In the featured $17,199 3-year-oldfilly trot the 5-1 second choice Pandemic Princess (Heath Campbell) workedvaliantly at attaining the point into a testy :30.3 opening panel. The ‘tester’ was the 3/5 favorite Barbella(Bruce Ranger) who finally took up position in the pocket, with Race MeBombshell (Drew Campbell) navigating along in third.
The headstrong pacesetting PandemicPrincess opened up an additional six lengths on the field as the trotterspassed the half in a minute flat. Heath Campbellfinally reeled the daughter of Whataworkout into a brief respite through a softer1:31.1 third panel. However, with the tables turned, now it was Barbella’s turnand she was out and rolling at her saddle pad as they approached the final turn.
Through the bend and into the homestretch Pandemic Princess went off stride which allowed Barbella to trot downto the wire in 2:01.3, a new lifetime best.
Trained by Ken Anderson for ownerRobert Zakian, the daughter of Whataworkout picked up her fifth seasonalvictory, and second in a row, paying $3.40 to win. She was bred by the late Mike Andrew.
Pandemic Princess finished second;Race Me Bombshell was third.
The other $16,973 division for3-year-old trotting fillies was captured in wire-to-wire fashion by Ivan Davies’Little Shot in 2:04.1. Owned and bred byDr. Douglass Hutchins with Paul Kinnear, the daughter of Noble Venture grabbedher second win of the season.
Lady Lake Marty (Wally Watson)finished second; Twisted Fate (Mike Cushing) was third.
In the $17,476 Maine Sire Stakes for2-year-old trotting colts and geldings the Skowhegan faithful witnessed lastyear’s freshmen champion return to his winning ways after a late start to hissophomore campaign.
Ken Watson rolled Whatawonder out toan early lead and never looked back as the son of Whataworkout made every calla winning one, scoring easily in 2:04.4 by 5-1/2 lengths.
Undefeated in ten starts lastseason, the Lisa Watson-trained gelding picked up his first win in threeseasonal starts. Owned and bred by BarbaraLawson, he returned $3.80.
Stable mate Katahdin Victor (WallyWatson) finished second; Liberty’s Wildcard rallied for third.
Frosh fillies enjoyed two divisionson the day’s full card, with Hayden taking a new 2:05.4 record fortrainer/driver Gary Hall in the $16,929 pari-mutuel split. Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, the daughterof Cantab Fashion returned $3.40 for her second career victory.
Our Last Quote (Steve Wilson)finished a fast closing second; Nobella (Ken Watson) was third.
In the other division, Pembroke Ladywon by a neck over Coronation Moon (Ivan Davies) in a lifetime best 2:05.1 fordriver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger has advancedher unblemished record to five straight victories for owner Brenda Varney. She won the lion’s share of the $16,754 purseand was bred in Maine by the late William Varney.
Speaking of undefeated trotters,Wilder N Idy continued his reign of supremacy in the $16,891 freshmen trot,scoring by an open 6-1/2 lengths for driver Mark Athearn and trainer GretchenAthearn. Owned by Patrick Leavitt, theson of To The Hilt was bred by Mike Andrew and also enjoys a five-race winstreak.
The Maine Sire Stakes winds down at Skowheganwith the 2-year-old filly pacers on Saturday (Aug. 16). The series takes a week hiatus and thenreconvenes at the Windsor Fair on Sunday (Aug. 24) with the 3-year-old fillypacers.
For more information about the MaineStandardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation,or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
–30—
<<< forImmediate Release >>>
CUTLINE: (1). Barbellacontinues to flourish in Maine; (2) Whatawonder got his groove back atSkowhegan. (Hollianne Niles photos)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<-------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maine trottersscoot thru Skowhegan
August 16, 2025, byChris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Hollianne Nilesphotos)
SKOWHEGAN,ME – Six$16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2- and 3-year old trottersscampered through the Skowhegan State Fair on Friday (Aug. 15) with several ofthe diagonally gaited set taking new records in the process.
In the featured $17,199 3-year-oldfilly trot the 5-1 second choice Pandemic Princess (Heath Campbell) workedvaliantly at attaining the point into a testy :30.3 opening panel. The ‘tester’ was the 3/5 favorite Barbella(Bruce Ranger) who finally took up position in the pocket, with Race MeBombshell (Drew Campbell) navigating along in third.
The headstrong pacesetting PandemicPrincess opened up an additional six lengths on the field as the trotterspassed the half in a minute flat. Heath Campbellfinally reeled the daughter of Whataworkout into a brief respite through a softer1:31.1 third panel. However, with the tables turned, now it was Barbella’s turnand she was out and rolling at her saddle pad as they approached the final turn.
Through the bend and into the homestretch Pandemic Princess went off stride which allowed Barbella to trot downto the wire in 2:01.3, a new lifetime best.
Trained by Ken Anderson for ownerRobert Zakian, the daughter of Whataworkout picked up her fifth seasonalvictory, and second in a row, paying $3.40 to win. She was bred by the late Mike Andrew.
Pandemic Princess finished second;Race Me Bombshell was third.
The other $16,973 division for3-year-old trotting fillies was captured in wire-to-wire fashion by Ivan Davies’Little Shot in 2:04.1. Owned and bred byDr. Douglass Hutchins with Paul Kinnear, the daughter of Noble Venture grabbedher second win of the season.
Lady Lake Marty (Wally Watson)finished second; Twisted Fate (Mike Cushing) was third.
In the $17,476 Maine Sire Stakes for2-year-old trotting colts and geldings the Skowhegan faithful witnessed lastyear’s freshmen champion return to his winning ways after a late start to hissophomore campaign.
Ken Watson rolled Whatawonder out toan early lead and never looked back as the son of Whataworkout made every calla winning one, scoring easily in 2:04.4 by 5-1/2 lengths.
Undefeated in ten starts lastseason, the Lisa Watson-trained gelding picked up his first win in threeseasonal starts. Owned and bred by BarbaraLawson, he returned $3.80.
Stable mate Katahdin Victor (WallyWatson) finished second; Liberty’s Wildcard rallied for third.
Frosh fillies enjoyed two divisionson the day’s full card, with Hayden taking a new 2:05.4 record fortrainer/driver Gary Hall in the $16,929 pari-mutuel split. Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, the daughterof Cantab Fashion returned $3.40 for her second career victory.
Our Last Quote (Steve Wilson)finished a fast closing second; Nobella (Ken Watson) was third.
In the other division, Pembroke Ladywon by a neck over Coronation Moon (Ivan Davies) in a lifetime best 2:05.1 fordriver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger has advancedher unblemished record to five straight victories for owner Brenda Varney. She won the lion’s share of the $16,754 purseand was bred in Maine by the late William Varney.
Speaking of undefeated trotters,Wilder N Idy continued his reign of supremacy in the $16,891 freshmen trot,scoring by an open 6-1/2 lengths for driver Mark Athearn and trainer GretchenAthearn. Owned by Patrick Leavitt, theson of To The Hilt was bred by Mike Andrew and also enjoys a five-race winstreak.
The Maine Sire Stakes winds down at Skowheganwith the 2-year-old filly pacers on Saturday (Aug. 16). The series takes a week hiatus and thenreconvenes at the Windsor Fair on Sunday (Aug. 24) with the 3-year-old fillypacers.
For more information about the MaineStandardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation,or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
–30—
Sincerely, Chris Tully Master of Business Administration (’12) Marketing Services for the Standardbred Industry TEXT or VOICE: 845.807.7538 Website: https://ChrisTullyTrot.com
