First Tracks Cumberland, in collaboration with Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor, has drawn for the Maine Legends pacing series to be held at both racetracks beginning on Tuesday (July 6) at Cumberland and Wednesday (July 7) at Bangor. Each leg carries a purse of $4,000 and has been written as a claiming allowance condition, with separate events for each sex.

The purse for the finals of each event is $12,500 guaranteed and will be raced at both tracks on July 24 (Cumberland) and July 25 (Bangor).

The "Donald Richards" first leg for mares attracted ten entrants, which were split into two divisions and carded as races one and four on Tuesday (July 6) at Cumberland.

The first "Maine Legends" division of competitive distaffs is headlined by 2-1 morning line favourite Media Queen N (post 3, Bruce Ranger) coming in off a three-race winning streak. The 10-year-old daughter of Mach Three is trained by Benson Merrill and appears to be very comfortable on the front. She will have to tussle with Humor Me (post 2, Drew Campbell), a 6-year-old Bettors Delight mare that has been battling with this bunch for several weeks and looks to improve her record for trainer Kim Vafiades.

Punters may have to take a chance on which Love Love Me Do (post 4, Dan Deslandes) will show up in that first division as well. The 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover had reeled off four consecutive wins before shutting down at the three-quarters in her last start on June 15. Another potential spoiler could be Age Is A Number (post 5, Aaron Hall) who won her last start and whose driver has been first, second or third in seven of his last 13 starts at the fairgrounds.

The fourth race, second division of "The Donald Richards" sees Plainridge invader Patanjali N (post 5, Walter Case Jr.) dropping in class following a long string of one-two finishes in $7,500 claimers in the Old Bay State. Trained by Chris Lefebvre and installed as the 5-2 morning line favourite, the 8-year-old American Ideal mare has earned over $20,000 this season.

Considering the potential of the aforementioned favoured lady, this race could be a battle for second place if form holds true, pitting Mickey Blu (4, Drew Campbell), against We’re Gonna Rock (post 3, McGwire Sowers) and Post Time Terror (post 1, Bruce Ranger) who all appear to be of relative equivalent ability.

Named for two of the most revered Maine Harness Horsemen of the current era, Freeman Parker and Donnie Richards, the series is unique in that there is no entry fee. In addition, it provides racing opportunities for both horses/geldings and for mares, 4-years-old and older that may be "stuck" between classes.

The "Freeman Parker" first $4,000 leg for horses and geldings at Bangor on Wednesday (July 7) is carded as race six and is highlighted by the winning machine Southwind Terror. Trained by Chris Hitchcock and driven by Nick Graffam, Southwind Terror scores from post 6 in an eight-horse field, which is sure to test the five-race win streak of the 11-year-old son Camluck.

The series is open to pacers that have started for a base claiming price of $6,000 or less since Nov. 1, 2020, and have not won for a base claiming price exceeding $8,000, or have not won a race for a purse of $10,000 or more from Nov. 1, 2020 through date of first leg entry.

The co-featured trot of the day pits General Jackson (post 4, Drew Campbell) against Jake Gs Champion (post 5, Andy Harrington), where the former out trotted the latter in their last meeting on June 26. Ironically the post positions are exactly the same in this renewal of the $4,600 conditioned race, with the likely leavers leaving and the setters setting. Looking the spoil the war party is Mad Dog (post 6, Heath Campbell) who finished second in his last outing, despite a misstep in the early going.

Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through July 31, post time is 2:30 p.m. (EDT) with two additional dates added Wed. & Thurs., Aug. 4 & 5 with 11 a.m. posts.

(First Tracks Cumberland)