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CUMBERLAND, ME – Sophomore harness racing trotter Wild Oats picked up his second Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake (MSBS) at Cumberland and third of the season on Wednesday (Aug. 4), winning in a lifetime best 1:59.1 over the historic half-mile oval. The twelve race card also generated a new handle threshold which exceeded $100,000 for the first time in the First Tracks Cumberland Spring/Summer meet.
When the gate wings folded for the third race $13,442 event, Pembroke Regal (post 2, Heath Campbell) was the first to leave and took command of the field through an opening panel of :28.3.
Following a modest half in :59.1, the outer flow started to develop with Billy B (post 6, Wally Watson) who had gotten away second and pulled the pocket going to the half for a second time. While failing to take the lead past the five-eighths, Billy B and Watson continued a dire pursuit of the leader down the backstretch.
Sensing an opportunity, conditioner Ivan Davies drove the three-year-old gelded son of Boy Band perfectly from his third position, blasting past the leaders and cruising home in :29.4.
The 4-5 favorite Wild Oats paid $3.60 to win, and is owned and was bred by Michael Andrews. Pembroke Regal, still the leader in the MSBS divisional point standings, held on for second; Katahdin Ben (Gary Hall) got up for third.
WILD OATS REPLAY
The current point leader in the three-year-old trotting filly division is Emmajean Jellybean, who returned to her past form and posted a wire-to-wire victory for driver Steve Wilson and trainer Sherry Cushing. Having drawn the pylon position, the Mister Anson filly never relinquished control of the tempo and held off the late charge of Pembroke Secret (post 5, Heath Campbell) to stop the timer in 2:04 for the tight finish.
The remaining members of the field were nine or more lengths behind the action with Hunters Gal (Dave Ingraham) finishing third. Emmajean Jellybean paid $6.40 to win for owners Nelson DiPompo Jr. & Michael Graham (also the breeders), along with co-owners Pamela Smith & Jane DiPompo.
EMMAJEAN JELLYBEAN REPLAY
The Spring/Summer meet at Cumberland continues and concludes Thursday (Aug. 5) with an 11 am post, featuring eleven races with two division of MSBS two-year-old male pacers. Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our winter meeting, beginning November 3rd and racing through December 31, 2021.
For more information go to our website.
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For full race results, click here.
by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
