Ranger, Campbell take Maine Legends first leg

CUMBERLAND, ME – The first leg of the Donald Richards Maine Legends Pacing Series went to post with two splits on Tuesday (July 6) at Cumberland, each vying for a $4,000 purse and a ticket to the $12,500 final for harness racing mares in two weeks.

The first division saw another Maine Legend, Bruce Ranger, scoot out to the lead with favorite Media Queen N who proceeded to halt any further interviews for would-be challengers.  Trained by Benson Merrill for owner The Starter’s Call LLC, the 10-year-old daughter of Mach Three tripped the timer in 1:57, a new seasonal mark.

Media Queen N paid $2.60 to win her fourth start in a row.  Humor Me (Drew Campbell) finished second with Cash Crazy Express (Heath Cambell) grabbing the show dough.

MEDIA QUEEN N REPLAY

During the second Maine Legends split, the battle was significantly more heated as the front end did not hold up for pace-setter Some Fancy Beach (Matt Athearn).  While grabbing the lead from a hesitant horse to the inside, Matty “Ice” dictated the fractions with Mickey Blu (Drew Campbell) sitting in the pocket.

Patanjali N (Walter Case Jr) flushed the cat bird out of the two hole while brushing to the three-quarter pole, and tried to advance while moving second over.  Around the final turn Mickey Blu and Drew Campbell advanced on the leader to get up and win by a neck in 1:56.2, with favored Patanjali N and Case closing quickly to be second.  Some Fancy Beach and Athearn held on for third.

MICKEY BLU REPLAY

Mickey Blu is owned and trained by Kim Vafiades, and paid $5.60 to win.

The trophies for the Maine Legends Pacing Series are sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.  Aimee Nichols made the presentations to the winning connections on behalf of the Blue Seal Feed stores in Windham and North Yarmouth.  Next week the mares head north to Bangor for the second leg of the Donald Richards Maine Legends Pacing Series.

The co-featured $4,600 conditioned trot of the day saw General Jackson (Drew Campbell) march right out to the front of the battalion and stomped home ever so confidently to win by 11 lengths in 1:58.2.  Trained by Chris Lefebvre and owned by Michelle Lefebvre, the 5-year-old son of Cantab Hall won his last two out of three starts since emigrating from Delaware.  General Jackson paid $2.60 to win.

Teamsters Bruce Ranger and Drew Campbell both had driving triples on the Tuesday card.  Trainer Kim Vafiades doubled on the day.

Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through July 31, 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

For full race results, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland