Battle brewing in Friday feature

CUMBERLAND, ME – Friday’s (May 13) eighth race featured $5,500 Open III Trot at Cumberland includes five-six figure harness racing winners, most of which horses that have won a race in the last month.

The early morning line favorite, Little Macabee (post 3, Aaron Hall) will have to contend with newcomer Mister Muscle (post 5, Bruce Ranger) who emigrated from Saratoga and Freehold as of late.  In addition, Warrawee Preferred has been assigned the outside (post 6, Matt Athearn) and looks for redemption from last week’s lackluster effort.

Overall, the entire field has in excess of $1.2 million in collective lifetime earnings, with Mister Muscle being the richest ($371,749) and Warrawee Preferred the winningest with 58 career victories.  It is also the start of the 50 cent Pick-3.

A total of four trots and six pacing races fill the Friday program, with a $4,800 Open IV Trot and a $4,000 Open V Trot also on tap.

In the Open IV, Major Matter (post 4, Matt Athearn) looks to make it two-in-a-row for trainer Ryan Berry, after winning the Open V by 5-1/4 lengths last week.  Prescott (post 6, Andy Harrington) is listed as the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Deli-craze (post 3, Dave Ingraham) moves up a notch to the Open V this week, following his most recent close finish victory for trainer Kelly Case.  Explosive Leggs (post 5, Kevin Switzer Jr.) has been installed as the 5-2 favorite.

Matt Athearn looks to make a scene in Saturday’s feature, shooting for three-in-a-row with Obscene Blue Chip in the $5,200 cond. pace eighth race.  Drawn outside due to his recent success, the 8-year-old son of Western Ideal just eclipsed $200,000 in lifetime earnings in his last start.

The favorite is Miss U Big Mike (post 1, Bruce Ranger), installed at 5-2, with local favorite Airspinder (post 4, Drew Campbell) close behind at 3-1.

There are ten pacing races on Saturday’s (May 14) card.  Post time for the Spring/Summer meet is now 4 p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays, with the extended pari-mutuel meeting racing each weekend through July 23.

The final race on both Friday and Saturday features our 20 cent Hi-Five (Pentafecta), with a low takeout of 16%.

More information can be found on our website here and on our Facebook page: First Tracks Cumberland.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland