Stong two-year-olds send off Cumberland meet

CUMBERLAND, ME – Three divisions of Maine-bred freshman pacers will go postward at First Tracks Cumberland on Friday (July 22) and Saturday (July 23) as the curtain closes on the Spring/Summer pari-mutuel harness racing meet at the iconic Southern Maine fairgrounds.

Friday’s early non-wagering race goes to post at 3:15 pm with seven entries in the $11,703 Maine Breeders Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies.  The winner of last week’s division, Janie (Deuce Seelster, post three) is back to defend her turf.  The filly covered the Cumberland oval in 2:00.2 in her last outing, winning by 1-3/4 lengths for driver Mark Athearn and trainer/partner Gretchen Athearn.

This week the leggy lass gets the services of driver Mike Stevenson.  Her closest competitor was Pickmepickme (Western Maverick, post 4, Andrew Harrington) who will look to improve their position for trainer Marc Tardif.  That filly has been 1-2-3 in all three of her seasonal efforts, including a 1:59.3 score at Bangor on July 6.

The entries are as follows:

$ 11,703 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, 2 Year Old Pacing Fillies (7/22)

1. La Mambacita (Western Maverick), Ron Cushing, Heidi Gibbs

2. Katelyn`s Angel (Western Maverick), Kevin Switzer Jr., Marc Tardif

3. Janie (Deuce Seelster), Michael Stevenson, Gretchen Athearn

4. Pickmepickme (Western Maverick), Andrew Harrington, Marc Tardif

5. South St Dottie (Western Maverick), Nicholas Graffam, Michael Graffam

6. Truewestern Girl (Western Maverick), Walter Case Jr., Marc Tardif

7. Ally Mac (Western Maverick), Aaron Hall, Michael Graffam

Saturday brings two $11,000-plus divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings before the pari-mutuel card.  Non-betting (NB) races go off at 3:00 and 3:15 pm respectively.

The Tardif Taskforce brings out their small army for another round of the freshman follies for male pacers, with seven entries in the two early races.

NB race one includes the heretofore undefeated Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World, post six) who has been driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. to all three of his decisive victories.  The gelding scored in 2:01 in his last appearance, stepping away from the field to win by 3-1/2 lengths.

His stablemate Facemaskrequired (Deuce Seelster, post one) has been knocking on the door for several weeks now, and the Andy Harrington-driven colt gets post position help this week.

Two Towns Over (Deuce Seelster, post three) also looks like a potential spoiler, as the gelding was second in his last start for driver Heath Campbell and owner/trainer Valerie Grondin.

The second division features Twice The Ice (Deuce Seelster, post four) who is one of four from the Tardif barn.  Driven by Walter Case Jr., he has two wins to his credit, the last in 2:01.4 at Cumberland.

Tardif also sends So Rock N’ Roll (Western Maverick, post six) into the fray, and gets a driver change to Andy Harrington.  Finishing second in his last start, race timed in 2:01.3, he shows a 28.4 last quarter in his first lifetime start.

Mattucci (Western Maverick, post one) hails from the Grondin stable and is co-owned with Gino Mattucci.  The colt has Heath Campbell at the controls and shows consistent last quarters faster than 30 seconds.

The entries for those divisions are as follows:

$ 11,433 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, 2 Year Old Pacing Colts & Geldings (7/23)

1. Facemaskrequired (Deuce Seelster), Andrew Harrington, Marc Tardif

2. Colt Bennett (Rock N’ Roll World), Ivan Davies, Ivan Davies

3. Two Towns Over (Deuce Seelster), Heath Campbell, Valerie Grondin

4. Two Points (Deuce Seelster), Michael Stevenson, Gretchen Athearn

5. Rockaroundsam (Rock N’ Roll World), Walter Case Jr, Marc Tardif

6. Luke Mcgook (Rock N’ Roll World), Kevin Switzer Jr, Marc Tardif

$ 11,609 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, 2 Year Old Pacing Colts & Geldings (7/23)

1. Mattucci (Western Maverick), Heath Campbell, Valerie Grondin

2. Race Me Maverick (Western Maverick), William Childs, William Childs

3. Someones Hero (Rock N’ Roll World), Kevin Switzer Jr, Marc Tardif

4. Twice The Ice (Deuce Seelster), Walter Case Jr, Marc Tardif

5. Ill Rock The World (Rock N’ Roll World), Ron Cushing, Heidi Gibbs

6. So Rock N` Roll (Western Maverick), Andrew Harrington, Marc Tardif

7. Anithingforyoudear (Rock N’ Roll World), Michael Stevenson, Marc Tardif

The Maine Breeders Stakes moves to the Union (ME) Fair, on Sunday (July 24) with the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings, followed by all the 3-year-old divisions being raced at Union Tuesday through Thursday.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website.

For complete Friday MSBS entries, click here.

For complete Saturday MSBS entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland