Trotters in Cumberland spotlight Friday

CUMBERLAND, ME – Some of the Pine Tree State’s top older harness racing trotters will meet again for Friday’s (July 19) $6,000 top conditioned trot at First Tracks Cumberland.  Locally campaigned Power Mitt (Explosive Matter, 5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Little Macabee (Chapter Seven, 6-1, Drew Campbell) will have to contend with the Plainridge import of Replica Hanover (Uncle Peter, 9-5, Mark Athearn).

Although stabled on the grounds with Team Athearn, Barbara Dresser’s Replica Hanover has not raced at Cumberland since mid-May as he has sought bigger prizes against tougher company in the Bay State.  Winner of his last start in 1:56.2 with Matty ‘Ice’ Athearn at the controls, the 6-year-old has earned $13,195 in his last four starts.

The rival to his inside is Power Mitt, who was 1-2 in his last two tries at Cumberland, and hails from the powerful Bob Marston stable.  The 5-year-old has won a quarter of his 16 seasonal outings for owner Dana Goding.

Little Macabee, the little horse that could, is a winner in his last start and is on an upward trajectory for trainer Chad Tompkins and owner Maryann Tompkins.  The 10-year-old has 37 lifetime victories and $239,203 in earnings to his credit.

They all line up behind the Wes Brown starting gate in race 8.  The previous race 7 welcomes the Camp Kippewa Equestrian Academy.  Twenty-plus enthusiastic campers will invade the apron and cheer for the favorite steeds amid homemade signs with more energy aboard than the space shuttle.  Everyone at Cumberland enjoys their passion for horses and harness racing.

Kippewa Equestrian Academy (KEA), located in Monmouth, offers a 12-day fully immersive equestrian experience for girls who want to improve their riding skills and expand their equine knowledge.  The camp has been in existence since 1957 and is located on the historic Woolworth estate, which produced some of the best Standardbred pacers and trotters in the country.

Friday’s (July 19) 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 10-13); 50-cent Pick 3 (races 11-13), all with a low 16-percent take out.

Looking ahead to Saturday (July 20), Cumberland sees the return of the 2-year-old pacing fillies for their third round of Maine Sires Stakes action.  The field is led by last week’s winner Leanne Marie (8-5, Mike Cushing) and the swift Glorilla (5-2, Ron Cushing).

Also, on Saturday’s 12-race program of packed overnights are two $5,500 splits for Maine’s top older pacers, and 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 First Tracks Cumberland meet continues racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend through August 3, which will feature the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland