Can Gowestyounggrace three-peat at Cumberland?

CUMBERLAND, ME – Friday’s (July 26) card at First Tracks Cumberland features two $16,000-plus harness racing divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies, with points leader Gowestyounggrace (Western Maverick) drawing in against second place lass Who’s Perfect (Western Maverick).

These two top fillies have avoided each other in their last two starts, where both gals have come away the victor in their respective divisions.  However, this week the Valerie Grondin-trained Who’s Perfect (9-5, Heath Campbell) drew pylon position, with Fred Ward’s Gowestyounggrace (7-5, Dave Ingraham) scoring from post four in the five-horse field opener.

It would be a stretch to say that this is a battle for divisional supremacy as the sophomore series is entering week 5 of a 12-round title bout, not including the final.  However, these two talented distaffs have danced every dance, and are separated by just 12 points.  The point system is based upon the purse percentages, 50-25-12-8-5, which means that whichever pacer wins this race will be the ‘top gun.’

The second $16,421 division will give a new filly a chance at a stakes victory, as none of those entrants have heretofore been victorious.  ‘Trackman’ selections indicate Ghost Of You as the 9-5 favorite from post four.  Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif, she will look to break the 2:00 record barrier this week.  The second choice is Pembroke Red, who has been installed at 2-1 and leaves from post one with Heath Campbell driving for trainer-partner Valerie Grondin.

Race secretary Rob Pennington has penned several pop-up series for the final two weekends of racing at the iconic Southern Maine oval.  Complete with catchy names and plump purses, the various TrackMaster and conditioned events pepper the entire weekend’s programs of full fields.

Friday’s (July 26) 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.

Looking ahead to Saturday (July 27), Cumberland sees the return of all the Maine-sired trotters for their next round of Maine Sires Stakes action.  Two early, non-wagering races start the day with the sophomore trotters, post time is 2:15 pm.  Then the regular card kicks off with two $16,000-plus divisions for freshmen trotters, as well as a $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC).  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.  The rest of the 13-race program features additional pop-up series with increased $6,000-$7,000 purses.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet concludes next week on Friday and Saturday, August 2 & 3.  The final day of the meet features the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, as well as full card simulcasting of Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands and Whitney Stakes Day at Saratoga.  Gates open at 11 am, with the first pari-mutuel harness race set for 3:15 pm.

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by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland