Track record tied in $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational

CUMBERLAND, ME – Plainridge invader Skyway Victor (Tellitlikeitis) was a confident 1:54.2 winner in Cumberland’s featured closing day harness racing event, the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace.  One of the swiftest miles of the 33-day meet, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was parked out most of the mile to score by 1-3/4 lengths over the anxious pacesetter The Bird Dance N.

When the wings folded the restless, front-running The Bird Dance N (Nick Graffam) assumed his usual spot-on point, setting a sharp 27.1 opening panel.  Not content to sit in the three-hole, Switzer Jr. pulled his charge Skyway Victor out going to the quarter mile marker and was thwarted for the front around the three-eighths pole and through the second turn.

As the field straightened out to go by the stands the second time, Switzer Jr. ducked his horse to the pylons as the top pacers hit the half in 56.1.  Skyway Victor was half-in, half-out going around the five-eighths paddock turn and then committed to the outside before the 1:25.1 third panel, where he was again toe-to-toe with the The Bird Dance N, eventually poking a nose in front.

By the head of the stretch Swizter Jr. had established a short lead but then started to gain some additional separation as the field rushed down the stretch to the wire.  Skyway Victor, as the even money favorite, prevailed while equaling the track record for aged pacing geldings.

Trained and co-owned by Mark Eaton with Robert Griffin, the 5-year-old picked up his 20^th career victory.  He paid $4.20 to win. The Wild Card (Bruce Ranger) finished second; Cigars And Port (Wally Watson) was third.

SKYWAY VICTOR REPLAY

The $10,000 Charles Malia Distinguished Service Invitational Trot was captured by heavy favorite Nows The Moment (Credit Winner) by driver Mike Stevenson for trainer Mr. Allison MacDonald.

Scoring in 1:57.1, the time was just a tick off the track record for older trotting geldings.  Owned by Sonya MacDonald, it was the 39^th victory of his illustrious career, putting the 8-year-old gelding’s lifetime earnings at $643,222.  He paid $2.20 to win.  Luvcrunchess (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second; Pembroke Regal (Heath Campbell) was third.

The race recognized the dedication to Maine harness racing that presiding judge Charles Malia faithfully provided during his decades of officiating at area racetracks.  With Mr. Malia on hand to receive the recognition, the winners circle was packed with the owners’ connections and well-wishers of the retired PJ.

NOWS THE MOMENT REPLAY

The $10,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club final was won by Todd Whitney driving Airspinder to a 1:56.3 score, winning by a quarter-length over Benson Merrill and Art Of Endurance.  Airspinder paid $7.80 to win.  Chumlee A (Ryan Hall) was third.  The race was sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of Windham and North Yarmouth.

The undercard also had several $10,000 Pop-Up series finals and make-up races, as well as four divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes, making the day one of the richest overnight cards in the track’s history, boasting over $175,000 in purses.

Bruce Ranger maintained his position atop the drivers’ standings through the Spring-Summer meet, finishing with 54 wins.  Kevin Switzer Jr. was second with 48; Nick Graffam (37), Drew Campbell (36) and Aaron Hall (35) rounded out the top five.  The leading trainers were Jeff Deslandes (22) and Chris Lefebvre (21); with Eric Bickmore, Sara Harrington and Benson Merrill each with 15.

Outlawofthevalley defeated his nemesis Wabanaki on Saturday (Aug. 5) at Cumberland to take his third Maine Sire Stakes victory of the season, placing him firmly atop the 3-year-old male trotter leader board.

The Pine Tree State-bred and sired trotters made their final appearances at Cumberland Raceway before the series starts its summer-long tour of Maine’s pari-mutuel fair circuit, with Outlawofthevalley taking a new 2:00.4 record to bring on the road with him.

As the wings folded in the featured $15,166 sophomore trot, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. wasted little time in taking command of the field as Hesalilnaughty jumped into the two-hole and then misbehaved and jumped off stride.  As the field approached the 29.2 first quarter, Wabanaki (Ivan Davies) inherited the catbird seat and gave chase.  Stealin Money (Nick Graffam) sat closely in third.

When the field set upon the 1:01.1 half-mile marker a head strong Wabanaki was not interested in sitting on a helmet and assumed a partial pocket through the paddock turn.  Down the backside Davies committed to pulling the right line and set Wabanaki into gear to catch the leader.  But Switzer Jr. would have none of that as he let out a notch on Outlawofthevalley and the pair scooted off past a 1:30.1 third panel and finished the job at the wire.

Although closing valiantly, the 1-5 favorite Wabanaki could not catch his foe, who won by a measured length and paid $7.80 to win.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, the son of Pembroke Slugger picked up the sixth win of his career, pushing his bankroll to $68,410.  Stealin Money finished third.

OUTLAWOFTHEVALLEY REPLAY

The $14,727 Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies was won easily by Wild Ending and trainer-driver Ivan Davies.  Completing a wire-to-wire score in 2:04.3, the time equaled the lifetime best for the daughter of Boy Band.

Owned by Anita Anastosopolous and bred by the late Mike Andrew, it was her third stakes victory of the season, and she paid $2.20 to win as the odds-on favorite.  Another Adventure (Switzer Jr.-Tardif) finished second; B R Glory (Wally Watson-Lisa Watson) was third.

WILD ENDING REPLAY

Freshmen trotters also participated in the blockbuster Cumberland closing day card, with the $14,367 filly trotters doing battle in the opener.  Previously undefeated 2-year-old My Saving Grace (Mark Athearn-Gretchen Athearn) cut the fractions, but it was Pembroke Breeze who overtook the lead in the final strides and picked up her first stakes victory and a new 2:06 race record for driver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin.

Owned and bred by Bill Varney, the daughter of Pembroke Slugger doubled her lifetime earnings to $14,366 in the process and paid $15.20 in the upset.  1-9 favorite My Saving Grace finished second by half a length; Bernie’s Legacy (Ivan Davies) was third.

Trainer-driver Valerie Grondin won the early $14,146 freshman colt trot with Chipper Dale in 2:09.1, giving her a training sweep of the baby races, and giving that son of Shake It Off Lindy his third consecutive victory.  He is owned and was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.  Carrabassett (Athearn) finished second; Pembroke Will (Campbell-Grondin) was third.

Monday (Aug. 7) the Maine Sire Stakes program transitions to the fair circuit with Maine Sire Stakes racing at Topsham and continue will all the pacing divisions through August 12.  The third week in August brings the monsters of the midway up to Skowhegan for another full week of Maine harness racing at its finest.

Racing resumes for the Cumberland Fair on September 24 for a seven-day meet.  First Tracks Cumberland’s extended winter pari-mutuel meeting starts November 5 and runs through Dec. 24.

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For full race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland