Four local horse owners reaped a bountiful fall harvest at Scarborough Downs Sunday, as the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes capped its season with the richest racing day ever in the stakes and state’s history.

Diann Perkins of Cornish, president of the Maine Breeders & Owners Association, said 1,000 race fans turned out, doubling last year’s attendance for the three-year-old finals. “It was a beautiful day,” Perkins said. The (Maine stakes) season ended on a high note.”

In a thrilling finish, Forward Momentum, owned by Mike Andrew of Gorham, nipped Race Me Spirit, owned by Bill Childs of Westbrook, in the $70,000 trot for three-year old colts and geldings in 2:06 4/5 in a non-betting race.

A pair of Southern Maine filly owners fared well, too. Dansan Lady, owned by Dansan Farm of Saco and trained by Dana Childs, finished third and WestVirginia Ginny, owned by Bobby Holmes of Gorham, was fifth in the three-year-old filly pace.

Gordon Corey piloted Forward Momentum to victory while John Beckwith was in Race Me Spirit’s sulky. Miles Moving was third for Wally Watson. Corey didn’t formulate a pre-race strategy. “With a trotter especially, you have to wait until the wings shut,” Corey said Monday.

But Corey hoped to be close to the front or on top to avoid trouble. The winner, an offspring of Moving Forward, led at each panel and rebuffed challenges by Race Me Spirit, who found racing room in the homestretch along the inside, and Miles Moving, rebounding after a costly miscue leaving the starting gate.

Miles Moving mounted a challenge on the backstretch but Forward Momentum kept him at bay. “My horse picked right up,” Corey said. “He has a competitive nature.”

In the homestretch, Corey remained confident, believing that Race Me Spirit had found racing room to late. But Mike Andrew viewed the race from the apron in front of the Downs’ grandstand and was apprehensive. “I was scared to death coming down the stretch,” he told the crowd following the race.

The program marked the single richest day in Maine racing history with four finals. In addition to the colt trot, the other three events each raced for in excess of $72,000.

Harness fan Bob Jackman of Windham, has been following the stakes action all season. He attributed the attendance to the quality of the horses on the program and the record purses. “Best crowd I’ve seen this year,” Jackman said.

The richest horse ever in Maine stakes history, Pop N Paula, with Gary Mosher up, captured the filly trot in 2:07; Driver Heath Campbell had the right touch, guiding Pembroke Touch, barred from the betting, home first in 1:59 4/5 in the pacing division for colts and geldings; and A She Biscuit steered by Jason Bartlett took home the winner’s share for pacing fillies, scoring a 2:01 4/5 victory.

Three owners announced after the races that their horses would be sold. Andrew said his horse, Forward Momentum, would be sold in November at the horse sale in Harrisburg, Penn., as will Pop N Paula, according to her owner Sheridan Smith of Farmington. Childs, who was well pleased with his trotter’s performance, put Race Me Spirit up for sale on the Internet Saturday night. He said the trotter is “available immediately.”

Owner Bill Varney of Bangor is keeping Pembroke Touch. His plans are to race the gelding in Maine next year.

With Sunday’s win, Forward Momentum raised his seasonal earnings to more than $80,000 and nearly $100,000 in 22 lifetime starts. Andrew said the horse has never been lame and is a competitor, “He tries every time,” Andrew said.

Andrew praised Corey, who also trains the trotter, and caretaker Alison Hynes for the job they’ve done handling the horse. Hynes is attached to Forward Momentum. “He’s the barn pet,” she said.

Pop N Paula, barred from the betting, had won 11 of 12 starts this year going into the final. The victory boosted the trot filly’s seasonal earnings to more than $93,000 and close to $126,000 in two seasons. “I’m a happy man right now,” Smith said after the race.

Dansan Lady banked more than $8,600 for her efforts and WestVirginia Ginny picked up $3,600 check. Kevin Switzer reined Dansan Lady and Heath Campbell drove WestVirginia Ginny.

The colt pace was dedicated to Dr. Joseph Kenneally, who previously had served 15 years as chairman of the Maine Harness Racing Commission. A dentist in Biddeford for more than 40 years, Kenneally helped shape the breeders’ stakes. “It’s a dream come true,” he said about success of the stakes.

Perkins envisioned Sunday’s success as the beginning. “We still have to keep reaching for the stars,” Perkins said. “Today is the start.”

The breeders association announced that Luke Ray of Porter is the recipient of a $3,000 scholarship. Ray, a student at the University of Southern Maine, plans to be a math teacher.

Ray, who comes from a family with long ties to harness racing, is the son of Jimmy and Kim Ray and a grandson of Foster Ray.

Priscilla Miles of Lyman, who owned Miles Moving’s dam, Terisse Ann, sadly announced Sunday that the mare died at 20 years old in her stall Oct. 8. Terisse Ann was sired by Springfest, a stallion that belonged to the late Joe Ricci, who owned Scarborough Downs. Priscilla Miles buried the mare with her harness and blanket in her paddock.

Terisse Ann had won the Maine Breeders Stake as a two-year old for Priscilla Miles’ husband, the late Arnold Miles, who owned, trained and drove.

1020Diann.jpg Diann Perkins of Cornish (left), president of the Maine Breeders & Owners Association, calls out a number as the all-important post positions for SundayHeath Campbell steers Pembroke Touch to victory in the big-payday, Maine Stakes final pacing event for three-year-old colts and geldings Sunday at Scarborough Downs.iann Perkins of Cornish (left), president of the Maine Breeders & Owners Association, calls out a number as the all-important post positions for SundayThe Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes capped its season Sunday at Scarborough Downs with the richest racing day ever in the stakes and statey and friends to the Downs. The Maine Stakes three-year-old colt pace final was dedicated to Kenneally, a Biddeford dentist, who previously had served 15 years as chairman of the Maine Harness Racing Commission. Perkins said a thousand race fans turned out, doubling last yearee-year-old finals. Dr. Joseph Kenneally (left) congratulates Bill Varney of Bangor, owner of Pembroke Touch, after the three-year-old gelding won the Maine Stakes pacing final at Scarborough Downs on Sunday. The race was dedicated to Kenneally, a Biddeford dentist, who previously had served 15 years as chairman of the Maine Harness Racing Commission.