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CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland will offer a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 pool on races 1 through 5 this coming Wednesday (Aug. 4), plus a new post time of 11:00 am and Maine-bred stakes on the program.
The Pick-5 has a $5,100 carryover from this past Saturday. Fans will have to study up early as post time is 11:00 am on both Wednesday and closing day, Thursday (Aug. 5). The Cumberland Pick-5 has a reduced 16% takeout, and the guarantee is part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program. Free past performances are available for the sequence: http://
The Wednesday card features a full card of twelve races, seven of which are eight-horse fields. Aside from the obvious wagering advantages, it could be billed as a Maine-bred trotting bonanza as every division of the diagonally gaited set will spring from the Cumberland starting gate.
The action gets underway early as the first non-betting event is slated for 10:30 am, featuring a half dozen 2-year-old trotting fillies. The pari-mutuel card begins shortly thereafter at the new earlier post time of 11 am, with the first race hosting Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes (MSBS) for 3-year-old trotting fillies, vying for a purse of $12,967.
An owner/trainer entry reduces the field to five betting interests, which also marks the start of the $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5. The Eric Bickmore-trained/Kermit Allen-owned entry has been listed as the 3-2 morning line favorite. Hunter’s Gal (post 4, David Ingraham) has been knocking on the door all season, and is poised to get that elusive first victory.
Second choice is Pembroke Secret (post 6, Heath Campbell, 2-1) who is coming off a win at Bangor, and has the fastest record in the division. The current point leader is Emmajean Jellybean (post 2, Steve Wilson, 5-2) who has upended her winning streak with a couple of recent misfires.
Race three brings out the 3-year-old male counterparts, all searching for the lion’s share of the $13,422 reward. A full eight-horse field makes this event one to watch as all of these trotting colts and geldings are independently owned and operated.
Wild Oats (post 3, Ivan Davies) returns to Cumberland off a win at Bangor and has been installed as the 2-1
favorite. Owned and bred by Michael Andrew, the son of Boy Band is also trained by Ivan Davies. Not far behind at 5-2 is Pembroke Regal (post 2, Heath Campbell), who is the point leader in the series and the leading money winner in the division. A son of Pembroke Slugger, he is owned and bred by Bill Varney and trained by Valerie Grondin.
The final MSBS of the day (race 5) contains six two-year-old trotting colts and geldings reaching for the stars and the $12,742 prize. An owner entry reduces the betting interests to five, as the Marc Tardiff-trained/Leighton Property-owned coupling has been listed as the 7-2 third choice.
The morning line favorite in the freshman fracas is the Gary Hall-trained and driven Katahdin Mark (post 4, 2-1) who comes into the third leg of the series undefeated. Owned and bred by James and Betsey Kelley, the Noble Venture colt likes the front end. Nipping at his heels the last two starts has been Chamorro (post 2, Heath Campbell, 5-2) and appears to be gaining ground with every start. Terrance Duranty’s homebred son of Pembroke Slugger is trained by Valerie Grondin.
The Spring/Summer meet at Cumberland continues and concludes on Thurs., Aug. 5 with an 11 am post. Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our winter meeting, beginning November 3rd and racing through December 31, 2021.
For more information go to our website.
Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.
by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
