Sports Editor
PRESQUE ISLE – Aroostook County proved its ability to breed tough competitors again. A 2-year-old filly born and fed on northern Maine soil raced ahead of her opposition and the win paid big dividends.
Contributed photo B.N. NAUGHTY pulls ahead with driver Gary Mosher to win the Maine Sire Stakes Race at Scarborough Downs on Sept. 9.
On Sept. 9 B.N. Naughty won the Maine Sire Stakes Race at Scarborough Downs, beating her 15-1 odds, with a time of 2:03:3. She won 50 percent of the $47,143 purse, more than doubling her total year-to-date earnings to $37,046.59.
“She was just wonderful,” said proud co-owner, Joy Duncan.“She set a new lifetime mark for herself.” Naughty’s mother came from Harrisburg, Penn. where Joy and Wendell Duncan purchased the mare. A Ray Ireland stallion sired the filly.
“She wasn’t very good when she was growing up,” said Wendell Duncan in regard to her namesake. But despite a difficult upbringing she exhibited her true worth at the races.
All fillies participating in the Maine Sire Stakes Program must be bred by Maine stallions. Out of the current 54 fillies, 26 participated in the race. Throughout the season each filly gains points by placing in the top eight positions to determine who will contend for the championship title. With odds against her, Naughty pulled ahead of the pack to beat out the second favorite by a head.
According to driver, Gary Mosher, “They made a little break leaving the gate, set next to last, and things went just about right.”
“When we went to the ‘big dance’ we were ready … we got all the racing luck we could get and she prevailed,” said trainer Jim Shaw. In 31 years of his hobby, the Presque Isle trainer sent only one other filly to the Sire Stakes final in 1980. Training for the year went up and down with rough patches and fighting against some lameness, but she affirmed the stalwart County nature.
Now Naughty’s enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation. “We pulled her shoes off the other night and she gets a break now until February,” said Joy Duncan.
