With autumn’s brilliant fall foliage serving as a backdrop, harness racing at Maine’s agricultural fairs and the 3-year-old divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes moved one step closer to the end of its seasonal countdown. Only two weeks remain on the fair circuit, with two of the state’s largest agricultural exhibitions – Cumberland Fair and Fryeburg Fair – remaining.

The MSBS program, in its 20th anniversary year, was defined and funded by the Legislature in 1974. Its purpose of providing Maine race tracks with a renewable supply of overnight and special event horses has been a slow ascent. This year, however, with renewed owner interest, a larger purse, more participation, and more state funding from off-track wagering, the horse shortage should be cured considerably.

This week, the MSBS moved its traveling stakes program to Farmington Fair and programmed the four divisions of trotters and pacing fillies on Wednesday and Thursday.

Wednesday, the 3-year-old trotters went in two divisions, one a non-betting event after the second race. Right from the word “go” in the five-horse field of the non-betting $4,039 trot, drivers listened for the hoofbeats of Newengland-Nitro and Danny Sumner coming from the back of the pack.

Sumner and Newengland-Nitro trotted from fifth position to the top, easing past Leigh Fitch and The Fax Man to take the top in a :32.3 quarter. From there it was a two-horse duel, with Sumner maintaining the top trotting spot through quarters of 1:03.4 and 1:35.3, closing out the winning mile in 2:05.3.

Fitch was two lengths off in second. The win gives the 3-year-old Groveton trotter nine series wins in 10 starts and earnings this season of $17,451.50.

In the betting trot, for a $4,234 purse, Ray Ireland and West Ridge Gossip had the rail and saw no reason to give it up. Ireland, whose charge had suffered breaks in her two previous outings, set his horse on the diagonal gait and, in typical high-line style kept her there.

The 3-year-old Jelly Apple filly claimed her fourth series victory, trotting front end quarters of :31, 1:02, 1:34.1 and winning by four lengths in 2:05.3 for owner C. Paul Mullen of Easton and increasing her earnings to $15,739.

Thursday’s 3-year-old filly races were programmed in two divisions and were wagering events. In the first pace for a $4,635 purse, regular driver Sean Branagan teamed pre-race favorite My Bill Cheryl around the Farmington half-mile oval in the winning time of 2:03.1.

The victory made it six seasonal wins for the young distaffer and lifted her bankroll to $15,925. Gracia and Joey Mosher finished second with Jolo Jenny Lynn and Bob Sumner landing third.

In the second $4,830 filly pace, a definite upset took place. Gary Mosher drove My Bill MB to a swift 2:02.3 victory for owners Ben and Richard Avery of Windsor. Although she had finished in the money in several previous stakes races, this was her first stakes win. The 3-year-old daughter of My Bill Forwood set a lifetime mark with the 2:02.3 victory, dropping her best winning time by more than seven seconds.

One pre-race favorite, Jo’s Luck and John Davidson, gallantly came from seventh to finish second, and another pre-race favorite, My Speedy Lady and Bob Sumner, finished third.

The 3-year-old colt divisions will be raced off in two divisions on Friday at Farmington. Post times for the final two days of racing there are 3 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Harness racing moves to Cumberland Fair next week, beginning Sunday, Sept. 25, with a post time of 3 p.m. During the week, Cumberland post times will be: 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with double dashes on Wednesday at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2.