Cumberland closing weekend offers $235,500 in purses

CUMBERLAND, ME – Cumberland’s closing weekend purses have reached nearly a quarter of a million dollars when the harness racing track will offer $235,500 in purses on Friday (Aug. 2) and Saturday (Aug. 3).  Led by the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace and three $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for freshmen pacers, the two-day extravaganza has 25 races for fans and bettors alike to enjoy.

The action starts of Friday (Aug. 2) at 3:15 pm with the lone $16,171 Maine-bred division of 2-year-old pacing fillies.  Three frosh females lead the charge and are equally accomplished with one win apiece.  The slight favorite is Leanne Marie (5-2, Mike Cushing) followed by Glorilla (3-1, Ron Cushing) and Chasing Dudes (3-1, Nick Graffam).  Throw in bridesmaid Whisper Of Luck (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and the punters will have their work cut out for them.

Nearly a dozen $5,000, $6,000 and $7,000 pop-up series finals are sprinkled throughout the card and will make for very exciting harness racing.

Friday’s 13-race card (post time 3:15 pm) includes all of the track’s regular betting options, including 50-cent Pick-5 (races 3-7); 50-cent Pick-4 (races 10-13); 50-cent Pick 3 (races 11-13), all with a low 16-percent take out.

Moving on to closing day on Saturday (Aug. 3), has a special 3:25 pm post time with full card simulcasting of Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands and Whitney Stakes Day at Saratoga.  Gates open at 11 am and programs from those two big tracks will be available.

At Cumberland Raceway Saturday’s 14-race card starts with two $16,000-plus divisions for Maine-sired freshmen male pacers.  The opener pits Jax Attack (7-5, Walter Case Jr.) against Cheatin Fate (3-1, Andrew Harrington) who both hail from the powerful Tardif Taskforce.  Just Aftermidnight (3-1, Switzer) completes the stable’s troika.

The second $16,161 Maine Sire Stakes division shows Massive Speed (3-5, Case-Tardif) as the heavy favorite, with that third race named in memory of tack shop man ‘Ridgecrest’ Dan Chamberlin.

Race seven is the $12,500 Frank Dubreuil Jr. Memorial which is a winners over class of top pacers led by former Maine Sire Stakes champion Call Me Maverick (2-1, John Beckwith).  Other contenders are Lifes A Puzzle (5-2, Case) and Bet On Joe (9-2, Switzer).

Race eight is the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) final with runaway point leader Hunter Lofthus looking to secure his spot in the Tim Fouts Memorial Amateur Driving Championship at Delaware during Jug week.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

In addition to the $12,500 winners over trot and several $10,000 pop up series finals, the highlight of the day may be the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, which presents some of the best pacers in the state of Maine.  The early favorite is Heinikin Bythebay (9-5, Switzer) who scores from pylon position.  He is followed by The Wild Card (4-1, Graffam) and So Rock N’ Roll (5-1, Bruce Ranger).

The live action resumes during the annual Cumberland Fair for a week of racing beginning September 22 and continuing through Sept. 29.  The track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and races through December 22 and will include the popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook. 

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland