$243,643 Maine Breeders Stakes Finals Saturday

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland welcomes the $240,000-plus Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS) Finals for 2-year-old Pine Tree State-bred harness racing horses on Saturday (Oct. 1), being held on the final day of the 150^th Cumberland Fair.

The opener is the $60,684 MSBS 2-year-old Trotting Filly final, which is led by She’salilbitmouthy (Victor Blue Chip) 2,2:06.3h ($60,305).  The leader of the division with 362 points and the highest earnings, the filly has seven consecutive wins in eight starts.  Having dominated this group most of the season, her only miscue was in her first start at Cumberland.  She is trained by Gretchen Athearn and will be driven by Mark Athearn for owner Bill “Yarmouth Lumber” Phipps.

Another Adventure (Noble Venture) 2,2:12h ($34,439) has been chasing the above filly all season.  She has seven second place finishes in nine starts for trainer Marc Tardif.  The second leading point winner (212) and money earnings in the division, she took her record at Cumberland in week one.

Race three features the $60,864 MSBS 2-year-old Trotting Colt final, with a field of seven.  Outlawofthevalley (Pembroke Slugger) 2,2:08.2h ($32,732) has led the division with 220 points and also has the highest earnings.  Marc Tardif trains Outlawofthevalley, who has three wins and four seconds in nine starts and has a good shot to take the big prize if he stays flat for driver Kevin Switzer Jr.

Another top contender in the division is Pembroke Traveler (Pembroke Slugger) 2,2:04.3h ($27,739), who sports the fastest record in the division and is the second leading point earner (164).  He won two of his last three starts, including a 5-3/4 length romp at Farmington for the partnership of Heath Campbell and Valerie Grondin.

Race seven carries a full field of eight into the $61,028 MSBS 2-year-old Pacing Filly final.  Standout Pickmepickme (Western Maverick) p,2,1:57.4h ($59,666) leads the charge.  The undisputed heavyweight of the division with 375 points, she also has banked the most bucks for owner/trainer/breeder Marc Tardif.  With seven wins in nine starts, the filly has amassed an impressive 32-length combined margin of victory in her last six romps.  Andy Harrington gets the call.

Tardif Taskforce stable mate Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) p,2,2:00.2h ($42,867) has been chasing the aforementioned top filly and has maintained second leading point earner (250) status.  With five wins in nine starts, including her last win in the slop, the lass can take the air or win on the front end for driver Kevin Switzer Jr.

The closing Maine-sired event is the $61,067 MSBS 2-year-old Pacing Colt final, programmed as race nine.  Luke McGook (Rock N’Roll World) p,2,1:59.3h ($53,659) leads his group with 350 points and most money earned.  One of five entrants in the race for trainer Marc Tardif, he has seven wins and two seconds in nine starts.  With victories on the front end or from off the pace, Luke McGook will have a target on his back, as he is the horse to beat.

Valerie Grondin’s Two Towns Over (Deuce Seelster) p,2,1:57.4h ($50,527) is no slouch either.  Sporting the co-fastest record in the division, well as being the second highest point earner (295), he is on a five-race winning streak.  Aaron Hall will drive.

Including the Maine Stakes, First Tracks Cumberland has added several high-end invitationals to the day’s festivities, bringing the total purses on the program to over $325,000.  The sixth race features the Cumberland Derby where fans can enter to win up to $500 by picking the correct race winner.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Breeders Stakes