Maine Sire Stakes weekend at Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME –Maine-bred harness racing pacing fillies highlight the weekend at First Tracks Cumberland with the 3-year-olds on Friday (July 12) competing in two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes, followed by a single $16,071 division for 2-year-olds on Saturday (July 13).

The opener on Friday has Gowestyounggrace (Western Maverick-Gracie Gracie) and driver Dave Ingraham looking for her second win in a row following a series leading 1:57.3 score in her last outing at Bangor.  Owned, trained and bred by Fred Ward Jr., the filly is also the leading point earner in the series with a pair of victories to her credit.  Just inside her is My Sweet Revenge (2-1, Kevin Switzer Jr) who has been 1-2-3 in her last three starts. She is trained by Marc Tardif.

In the second $16,421 Maine Sire Stake for 3-year-old filly pacers, the Valerie Grondin-trained Who’s Perfect (Western Maverick-Perfect Launch) and driver Heath Campbell will look to keep her winning ways intact as she scores from pylon position.  With a win last week in 1:57.4, the filly has never been worse than second all year.  Her biggest threat comes from Ghost Of You (5-2, Switzer-Tardif) who has been nipping at her heels regularly.

The featured overnight race is the $6,000 conditioned trot led by Aaron Hall’s Jax Spratt (Devious Man). The 4-year-old has racked up five wins in eight starts this season for owner Bill “Yarmouth Lumber” Phipps.

Friday’s (July 12) 12-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 9-12); 50-cent Pick 3 (races 10-12), all with a low 16-percent take out.  There is also a $330 carryover in the 12^th race Pentafecta.

Looking ahead to Saturday (July 13), Cumberland welcomes the 2-year-old pacing fillies for their second round of Maine Sires Stakes action.  The field is led by Glorilla (4-5, Ron Cushing) who turned some heads with her swift and decisive opening round triumph in 2:02.3 last week at Bangor.

Also, on Saturday’s 11-race program of full fields includes the featured overnight $6,000 top pace, with Lifes A Puzzle (9-5, Richard Humphrey) looking for a softer landing spot after slugging it out with faster foes at Plainridge.  Instant Replay (7-2, Walter Case Jr.) is back and scores from the inner most post following a fortnight respite.

In addition, the $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) goes as race five on Saturday.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend through August 3.

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by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland