Race secretary Marc Reynolds put together two divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes (MSBS) for three-year-old pacing fillies, which headlines the Saturday (June 19) card at Cumberland.
The first split, carded as race one, has five distaffers vying for a $9,710 purse, with 2020 division leader Pembroke Legend the 2-1 morning line favourite. Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner William Varney, the sophomore lass by leading Maine sire Western Maverick never missed the board in six seasonal starts last year. Pembroke Legend took her 2:01.3 record at Bangor on Oct. 11, winning the $41,093 MSBS final with regular driver Heath Campbell. Bred by Lynne-Marie Plouffe, the filly with over $30,000 in lifetime earnings will score from post four.
But this will be no walk in the park for the aforementioned state champ. Her chief rival during the two-year-old events, Tally Two, is back and has drawn the rail for trainer Gretchen Athearn and driver Matt Athearn. A daughter of Deuce Seelster, Tally Two had four wins and two seconds in seven starts at age two, defeating Pembroke Legend on a few occasions, while earning $27,650. Bred by Heather Allenbrand, she is owned by William Phipps.
The second $9,936 split (race three) accommodates seven horses across six betting interests due to an owner-trainer entry of William Varney and Valerie Grondin. They send Pembroke Ali (post 3, Drew Campbell) and Pembroke Junebug (post 6, Heath Campbell) into the fray. Pembroke Ali broke her maiden last year winning a MSBS event at Scarborough, and had $11,327 in seasonal earnings, while Pembroke Junebug made $6,648 but still seeks her first victory.
The Campbell brothers drive the 2-1 morning line favourites, but top dog Bruce Ranger looks to steal some of their thunder with CBF Star Power. Fresh off her maiden victory in 2:00.2 at Bangor, the daughter of Deuce Seelster added $2,000 to her dance card already this year. Trained by David Crochere, she was bred and is owned by Glenn Harris with Marion Phelps. CBF Star Power has drawn post four.
The Winners Over Trot now boasts an increased purse of $6,500 and has attracted six diagonally gaited rivals looking to assert their dominance in a class that often sees a re-shuffling of the titleholders.
Caulfield comes into the race having won four of his last six outings, and gets the handy post five for driver Mike Stevenson. He has earned over $16,000 in 10 seasonal starts. To his right is Bruizn (Andrew Harrington), who wired the field last week and looks to repeat his performance. The lone mare in the field, Cherry Crown Jewel (Matt Athearn), should not be overlooked either, as she continues to match strides with the boys and always holds her own.
The ninth race gives way to the merry men and women of the midway, the fashionable Maine Amateur Drivers Club (MADC) races. The “B” class division has seven combatants competing for a $3,800 purse, and gets some familiar faces as well as some new arrivals to the fairgrounds. Scott McKenzie lands the rail position with Air Force Grad, a 24-time lifetime winner owned and trained by our outrider Sherry Cushing. To his right is All About Al, owned, trained and driven by Stan Bubier III, also making his MADC seasonal debut.
Second choice in the MADC event is Baywood Shadow, driven by young upstart Dalton Lee. Proving that anyone can join in the fun, 63 years separates Robert Nadeau (83) with Dalton Lee (20). But they need to look out for morning line favourite Winning Chip, trained and driven by Chris Lefebvre.
Dan Lambert, assistant manager of the North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feeds location, will make the MADC trophy presentation to the winning amateur connections. With 11 races on the card, there is something for everyone on the day’s program. The Trackside Pub is open with their beer garden and bar-food kitchen quickly becoming a favourite place for local race fans and summer visitors alike.
Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through early August; post time is 2:30 p.m. For more information go to firsttrackscumberland.com.
(First Tracks Cumberland)