Best in Maine to go in Jake Phipps Memorial

CUMBERLAND, ME – This weekend’s Jake Phipps Memorial Trot features some of the best fast-class trotters currently racing in the state of Maine.

Carded as race nine on the full, twelve-race program at Cumberland on Saturday (July 31),the favorite, despite being assigned the outside post six, is Mister Muscle.  Last week the 7-year-old son of Muscle Mass tied the track record of 1:57.3 for older gelding trotters, winning wire-to-wire for top reinsman Bruce Ranger.

Mister Muscle is owned by Saratoga-based trainer/driver Mark Beckwith and has already earned $32,399 this season in 22 starts with a 4-4-2 summary.  Trained by Ryan Nelson, he retains the steering services of Bruce Ranger.

Also vying for the $6,500 Winners Over purse is local mare favorite Cherry Crown Jewel(7-2, Matt Athearn, post 2).  The 9-year-old daughter of RC Royalty was second against Mister Muscle last week, and looks to upend the early favorite. She is trained by Gretchen Athearn and has accumulated $16,300 in 13 season

al starts with three wins and five second place finishes for owner William Phipps.

Other contenders include: Uknow What To Do (4-1, Drew Campbell, post 4), who is always tough when he behaves for trainer Jim Dunn; Mad Dog (5-1, Heath Campbell, post 3) who scores from post three, the 6-year-old son My MVP is moving up in class for trainer Valerie Grondin; Bruizn (9-2, Andy Harrington, post 5) who appears to be ready to rebound and return to his past form; Big Bang Hanover(5-1, Dave Ingraham, post 1) who needs a little luck in here, but scores from inside.

The introductory edition of the Jake Phipps Memorial Trot pays homage to a young man beloved by all and whose passion for harness racing inspired those around him.  A fixture around Maine’s close-knit harness racing community, the winner’s circle presentation will be filled with members of the Phipps family, as well as many of the friends that Jake made along his lifelong pursuit of the sport and love of Standardbreds.

To read more about Jake Phipps, click here.

The $6,500 Winners Over Pace reconvenes with some familiar faces, as well as some out-of-town invaders looking to grab their piece of the pie before the meet winds down.

Benny Is A Jet (5-2, Nick Graffam, post 5) has been installed as the early morning li

ne favorite, based upon his consistency against tougher foes at Saratoga.  Already sporting a 1:54 half-mile track record this season, the 4-year-old son of American Ideal has won five of his last eight starts, earning $27,875 this year. He is trained by Jim Dunn.

Looking to ground the favorites are Bet You (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr., post 3) who ships in from Plainridge and has $23,145 on his seasonal bankroll, and, Bo Master (7-2, Dan Deslandes, post 4), who is coming off a six-race winning spree at Bangor and, like his pilot, loves the front end.

The day’ sevents also carry two $12,498 divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. This is the second leg for the frosh females, carded as races one and three.  The attractive wagering menu includes three 20 cent Superfectas, as well as a plethora of 50 cent Trifecta races, a nearly and a late $1 Daily Double, a 50 cent pick 5 (races 1-2-3-4-5), a 50 cent pick 4 (9-10-11-12), full-card $1 Exactas, etc.

First post time is 2:30 pm for the full, twelve-race program, which is the final Saturday card of our inaugural spring/summer extended pari-mutuel meeting.

Live harness racing from Cumberland continues with two additional dates added Wed.& Thurs., Aug. 4 & 5 with 11 am posts. 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: firsttrackscumberland.com

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland