Cumberland hoping for million dollar handle

CUMBERLAND, ME – On a day when the total cumulative handle at First Tracks Cumberland is expected to eclipse $1 million, three $10,000e Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes (MSBS) divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings headline the eleven-race, holiday weekend program on Saturday, July 3.

The so-called ‘glamour boys’ division is the third leg of the 13-race series, which travels around to the two commercial tracks, as well as the Maine pari-mutuel fair circuit, culminating in the $80,000a final on October 16 at Bangor.

The likely odds-on favorite in the opener is Edelman, a black gelding by Western Maverick who is looking for his fourth consecutive victory.  Touting sire stakes wins at both Bangor and Cumberland, the Heidi-Gibbs-trained sophomore scores from post two with regular driver, breeder & co-owner Ron Cushing. The leading point earner in the series, Edelman is also co-owned by Kevin Sywyk.

American Maverick, another son of Western Maverick will surely try to assert his independence and capture some of the day’s glory.  Trained by Mark Tardif and driven by Kevin Switzer Jr., American Maverick leaves from post three and needs a win to jump up in the point standings from eighth. He was bred by Leslie Leighton and is now owned by Leighton Property.

Likely to get the first call in the $9,918 third race is Call Me Maverick, who leads the pack in the second division of the MSBS. Sitting a cool second in the point standings, the son of Western Maverick is trained by Gordon Corey and returns to his home track where he won the first leg of the Maine Sires in 1:59.3. Owned and bred by Upland Farms, driver Mike Stephenson gets the call.

Looking to continue his good fortune is A Sweet Bidda Luck.  Another son of Western Maverick who won his last MSBS at Bangor in 1:59, he looks to keep his luck from running out.  Trained by Heidi Gibbs and owned by Philip Scott McKenzie, A Sweet Bidda Luck will leave from post two with Ron Cushing steering his fortunes.  Fourth in the point standings, he was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Hollywood Skeeter looks to sting his competitors in this third race.  Scoring from post 5 with reinsman Nick Graffam, the son of Cheyenne Hollywood is trained and owned, and was bred by Michael Graffam.  Entrenched a thirsty third in the point standings, Hollywood Skeeter is comfortable coming from off the pace to buzz down the long Cumberland stretch.

The third and final division of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake looks for morning-line favorite Paxxton to get off his losing streak and assert his place in the ‘Sons of Western Maverick’ hierarchy. Driven by Heath Campbell, he is harnessed by Valerie Grondin who just eclipsed 2,000 career training wins. Valerie Grondin is also the co-owner with Rhoda Underhill.  Paxxton was bred by Warren and Joan Harp andis seventh in the point standings.

Leaving from inside Paxxton are Lord Magnetic (post 1, Matt Athearn) and Whatawinwillie(post 2, Switzer Jr.), both have won previous legs of the MSBS this season, and both are owned by their breeders: Jason Vafiades and Marc Tardif, respectively.

Back again for their sixth week with two more fun-filled episodes are the ever-popular, always growing Maine Amateur Driving Club series, sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.

Starring in the first show is the MADC $3,800 ‘B’ group in race six, which pits point frontrunner Charles “Butch” Eaton against a group of gung-ho reinsmen looking to unseat the leaders.  Eaton drives his own Keystone Camaro from post 2, while returning winner Derek Howes tries to get Sunset Over Miami to redeem last week’s performance. Always ready to shake things up are Plus One and Joe Burke from post seven, to be joined by Bob “The Elder Statesman” Nadeau and his trusty gray steed Putnam’s Storm.

Returning after station identification is the Maine Amateurs $4,800 ‘A’ group, headlined by Middle Aged Crazy, driven by her co-owner Valerie Grondin, starting from post five.  Just inside is the Michael Girouard-trained-and-driven Rockin Ellie who takes a significant drop in class to compete in here.  Making his seasonal debut in the MADC ranks is Stephen La Casse with his own Nets Of Passion.  Leaving from the outside post six, the consistent 1:57 and a piece pacer will have his work cut out for him in this bunch.

Returning to Cumberland to make the presentations to the winning amateur connections is Melanie Locke, store manager for both the local Blue Seal feed stores and presenting the ‘swag bucket’ trophies of stable supplies on behalf of the Windham and North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feed stores.

Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through July31, post time is 2:30 pm, with two additional dates added Wed. & Thurs., Aug. 4 & 5 with 11 am posts.  For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

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by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland