Case, Campbell win half of Cumberland’s race card

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing drivers Walter Case Jr. and Drew Campbell dominated the Friday (May 24) program at Cumberland Raceway, picking up three wins apiece and taking over half of the races on the 11-race card.

‘Casey’ wasted little time throwing down the gauntlet, as the Maine-native pushed favored Warrawee Preferred (Federal Flex) right to the top in the opening trot.  From that point it was an easy ride in the park for the 13-year-old who scored handily by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:59.2.  It was a new seasonal mark and his 67^th career victory, paying $4.60 to win for owner-trainer Ryan Berry.

WARRAWEE PREFERRED REPLAY

With the track favoring speed, Case steered Oceanview Echo to a 7-3/4 length romp in 1:56.3, which was the fastest race of the day.  Owned and trained by Dana Whittemore, the 7-year-old mare paid $3.00 to win the fourth race and established a seasonal best record after five previous attempts.

Case grabbed his third win of the day in race 7 with Your Momma, which was another wire-to-wire effort for an owner-trainer.  Eddie Fournier Jr. harnessed the 6-year-old mare that paid $3.60 while winning in 1:59.4, a new seasonal benchmark.

In race 8, Drew Campbell took matters into his own hands and utilized a first-over trip to get pay dirt with the handsome trotter Little Macabee (Chapter Seven) in 1:59.  Owned by Maryann Tompkins and trained by Chad Tompkins, the 10-year-old scored his 35^th lifetime win, paying $5.40.

LITTLE MACABEE REPLAY

Campbell came right back in race 9 and scored with Valyrian Steel in 2:00.2, which gave the Tompkins’ clan a double.  Like Déjà vu all over again, the 9-year-old son Chapter Seven is owned by Maryann Tompkins and trained by Chad Tompkins and got his 8^th career score.  Valyrian Steel paid $3.80 to win.

The $5,500 featured race of the day was another Drew Campbell show, giving the veteran reinsman a natural hat trick with Watchagonnadoboo (Artspeak) in 1:57.2.  Unlike Case’s wire-to-wire efforts, Campbell came from off the pace to earn his three triumphs.  Watchagonnadoboo prevailed by two lengths, as the Eric Bickmore owned and trained 7-year-old mare paid a whopping $15.80 to win.

WHATCHAGONNADOBOO REPLAY

Driver Andy Harrington picked up a pair of victories, both of whom were trained by his wife Sara Harrington.

Harness racing action resumes on Saturday (May 25) with a ten-race card where George Fenno III’s Instant Replay will attempt to get his second win in a row.  First post is 3:15 pm.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland is proud to offer simulcasting from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 8 for the 156^th renewal of the Test of the Champion, the $2,000,000 Belmont Stakes.

First Tracks Cumberland Spring/Summer meet continues throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3.  Post time is always 3:15 pm.

For additional information, visit our website, or find us on social media.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland