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Smallwood Sizzles in Sire Stakes Action at Scarborough
Michael Sweeney for Scarborough Downs
July 6, 2014
Maine Sire Stakes action returned to Scarborough Downs on Sunday (7/6) with the 3-year-old colt pacers taking center stage, racing three splits for purses in excess of $10,000 per dash.

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Michael Newman Photo
Alittlebitcountry and driver David Ingraham in Stakes competition on Sunday at Scarborough Downs.
Trainer James Smallwood’s roster came to the forefront on Sunday securing top honors in two of the three divisions. Drama King (Dan Deslandes) mounted a convincing rally to overcome the unexpected early speed of Dansan Clyde before having to dig down deep to withstand the persistent late charge of Whip Chaser. The win marked the third consecutive trip down victory lane for the son of B Dramatic, who is owned by James Smallwood of Windsor, Maine. The mile was timed in a lifetime best of 2:00 flat.

Whip Chaser (John Nason) was second; Dansan Clyde (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) faded to third.

Alittlebitcountry doubled the pleasure of owner/trainer Smallwood, taking a speedy new lifetime mark of 1:58.4, erasing nearly 5 seconds from his previous best, with driver David Ingraham calling the shots.

The son of Ashlee’s Big Guy, like his stable mate, rallied smartly to secure his first stakes win of the season, out-dueling David The Saint (Mark Athearn) in the stretch to just get up at the wire.

David The Saint was second; With Cracked Ice (Wallace Watson) rallying for the show.

Blackmalin (Greg Bowden) took victory in the third division, reclaiming the form that made him a seven-time winner last season. The son of Shady Character led the field twice around the oval to secure his first sophomore score. Owned in tandem by Florence O’Keefe and Dean Malin, the gelding was never seriously threatened during the mile as he glided to an easy three-length margin, timed in 1:58.2, the fastest stakes split of the afternoon.

Scarborough Downs was pleased to welcome the 3-year-old trotting divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes program as they relocated to the Seaside Oval after their divisions were rained out at Bangor Raceway on Friday (7/4).

Three divisions were carded on a non-wagering basis, with Kate At The Gate (Gary Mosher) claiming victory in the filly division, timed in 2:01.3. The daughter of Current Cast is owned by the East Pond Stable of Waterville, Maine.

The colts split out into two divisions with CCC (Kim Ireland), a gelded son of Musclini, claiming victory timed in 2:03.2 as he was cheered on by owners Dennis and Deborah Foss of Rye, New Hampshire.

Bickmore claimed victory in the second colt division as he made his very first start under the tutelage of driver/trainer Ivan Davies. The son of Noble Venture, owned by Stephen Hall of Newport, Maine, took a brand new lifetime mark of 2:02.1.

In other news: Driver Drew Campbell continued to hold the hottest hand, scoring five wins on Sunday’s program as he followed up on his grand-slam performance on Saturday.

Live racing returns to Scarborough Downs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week at 4:30 pm and Sunday at 1:05 pm.