Bibbidi Boo Completes Undefeated Season in Maine Sire Stakes Championships

By Michael Sweeney for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, Maine (Sunday, September 7, 2014) - The old saying, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" never rang more true than on Sunday (9-7) at Scarborough Downs as the Maine-bred filly, Bibbidi Boo, wrapped up a brilliant undefeated season while continuing to lead the national standings as the winningest two-year-old filly trotter in the land.

Leaving alertly from post 7, the daughter of Noble Venture never encountered a serious threat with driver Heath Campbell confidently calling the shots from the front-end seat to secure the lion's share of the $57,329 purse. Owned in tandem by William Varney and Lynn-Marie Plouffe, the Valerie Grondin trainee secured her 10th consecutive victory in a track record clocking of 2:01.4, supplanting the previous benchmark of 2:03, established by her stable mate, Pembroke Mistress, just one month earlier.

"She's been simply awesome all season long" said driver Heath Campbell, "She's required no vet work, never been sick and absolutely loves to race. What more can you ask for?"

Rhonwen (Ivan Davies) sat the pocket trip throughout to secure runner-up honors while Kisses (Kim Ireland) followed the top two twice around the oval to remain third best.

Just Say Mo took top honors in the $57,229 colt trotting final rallying three-wide off the final turn after sitting next to last throughout most of the mile. The 2:03 victory march represented a maiden score for the son of Boy Band who is owned in partnership by Heidi Gordon and driver/trainer Kim Ireland.

"He's always closed good" Kim Ireland remarked, "And the last three weeks he's been getting better and better. I though he had a pretty good chance coming into this race."

"It really was his biggest race" Kim's wife Wendy Ireland chimed in, "I want to thank Heidi for her confidence in our stable and I really appreciate what Scarborough Downs did today to host these finals."

Pembroke Jack B (Heath Campbell) returned to early season form, just getting bested at the wire by 3/4-length to finish second. Broadway Cast (Mark Athearn) was sent to the gate as the post time favorite but could rally for no more than third.

The $57,357 colt pacing division came down to a battle between two brothers as Drew and Heath Campbell piloted the Valerie Grondin trained entry of Pembroke Wildcat and Pembroke Maverick. The duo jockeyed for early position before Pembroke Maverick and driver Heath Campbell settled on the lead and with his sibling-driven stable mate ensconced in the pocket, girded for the expected stretch duel. That battle came as advertised with Wildcat just nosing out Maverick at the wire as Drew Campbell raised his whip in triumph.

"I had the 8-hole so I had to wing it" Campbell remarked, "I left out of there just looking for a hole but when none developed I just kept going. I told Heath to come back around and it's a good thing too because when he did my colt came right up on the bit."

When asked about raising his whip, Campbell remarked, "We just lost our mother earlier this year so when we crossed the finish line together I said to Heath, 'This one's for Linda'. I know she was looking down on us today."

Owned by William Varney, the son of Western Maverick scored the 6th win of his rookie season in a track record clocking of 1:57.2, trumping the previous benchmark of 1:58.4 established by another Main-bred,  Maineiac Matt in 2007.

Seabliscuit and driver Michael Graffam rallied to secure the third place finish.

The $57,268 filly pacing final continued with the day's theme of razor close finishes as Eat Your Enemy rallied three wide off the final turn while navigating a last to first route on her way to winners circle glory with driver/trainer John Nason engineering the winning strategy for co-owners Carolyn Corso and Lynn-Marie Plouffe. The daughter of Western Maverick stopped the clock in a lifetime best 2:01.2 while lighting the board to the tune of a $29 win ticket.

"Want to see how many fingers I had crossed?” Carolyn Corso quipped following the winners circle ceremony. "It really feels wonderful and there are so many people to thank. It's really a team effort and we are so very happy for all of them. Oh, and she does not live up to her name, she's a very sweet little filly in the barn."

"I came by her name after reading the wording on a Nike tee shirt and just knew it was the perfect name for a horse" Lynn-Marie Plouffe explained adding, "I've never had such a career year as this, with two great horses both wining stakes finals. It's been a long time coming. I guess you never get tired of it."

Ms Casey Mac (Gary Mosher) who set the early fractions just got caught on the wire before settling for second. Analyze (Michael Graffam), the post time favorite who set up the outer flow and gave live cover to the eventual winner was third.

In other track news, Panchester United equaled the second fastest mile ever recorded at Scarborough Downs with his 1:53.1 score in the $8,000 Free For All, with Drew Campbell driving the horse out to the wire, only to fall 2/5th-second off the ancient overall track record which was established by Hotrod Falcon and Walter Case, Jr back in 1993.

With the summer meet concluded, Scarborough Downs heads into a five week hiatus as the fall fairground season takes center stage in Maine. The Downs will reopen to begin its fall meeting on October 10th racing a three day per week schedule of Friday through Sunday with post time slated for 1:05 PM (EDT). Simulcast wagering continues at the downs 7 days a week from noon to midnight throughout this month's shutdown.

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or our Facebook page.