Maine Stakes Highlight Cumberland Weekend
![Oakleypopsthedeuce winning at Cumberland](/sites/default/files/styles/headline_image_1024_x_577/public/2023-07/Oakleypopsthedeuce-073023-StephanieGray-1024.jpg?itok=HiZt3uFQ)
Maine-bred and sired two-year-old pacers re-appeared at Cumberland on Sunday, July 30 when the aptly named Oakleypopsthedeuce acted accordingly to capture the first win of his fledgling career.
Scoring from post two in a $15,123 Maine Sires Stakes division, driver ‘double-digit’ Dave Ingraham maintained his position with 8-1 shot Oakleypopsthedeuce and settled in behind 2-5 favourite Hesjustadelight (Ron Cushing) to hit the opening panel in a moderate :29.4.
With no movement and the field in perfect alignment, the freshman pacers hit the half in a relaxed 1:01.2 with Wess Challenge (Walter Case Jr.) sitting third. Down the backstretch for the final time, Thru The Fire (Andy Harrington) moved swiftly passing horses first-over and was alongside Oakleypopsthedeuce as the field reached the third stanza in 1:31.
Rolling through the turn in the heat of battle, Thru The Fire lost some momentum, which gave Oakleypopsthedeuce just enough wiggle room to pop out of the two-hole and challenge for the lead. Down the stretch, the pair matched strides valiantly, but it was Oakleypopsthedeuce that prevailed by a quarter-length, getting up in the final steps to break his maiden in 2:01.4. Hesjustadelight finished second and Wess Challenge was third.
Trained by Kelly Case for owner Tammy Sowers, the son of Deuce Seelster was bred by Irwin Kaplan. Living up to his Gabe Prewitt-given nickname, Dave Ingraham with Oakleypopsthedeuce paid $19 to win.
Two $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for freshman fillies were scheduled for Saturday, July 29; however, one raced and one was postponed until Sunday.
Ghost Of You took the rescheduled $14,663 event, which was contested before Sunday’s regular program, in a maiden-breaking 2:02.1. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif and owner/breeder Leighton Property, the two-year-old daughter of Deuce Seelster made every call a winning won, scoring wire-to-wire to grab the first victory in her six-start career. Zoes Precious RN (Mike Cushing) finished second and My Sweet Revenge (Case Jr.) was third.
A day earlier, Mrs Foxy Roxy picked up her fourth career victory, scoring in 2:05.2 in the $14,486 Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. Also by the sire Deuce Seelster, the Mike Graffam-trained and Nick Graffam-driven distaff has assembled an impressive seasonal summary of four wins and a second in six starts. This was Mrs Foxy Roxy’s third Maine Sire Stakes victory for owners Bill McElvain Jr., Diane Dunn and Brad Veilleux and breeders Gary and Kristina Hall. She paid $4 to win. Whos Perfect (Heath Campbell) finished second and Gowestyounggrace (Ingraham) was third.
Despite the heavy rain that forced the cancellation of much of the Saturday card, the track at Cumberland was lightning fast for Sunday’s five $7,000 divisions of the Portland Head Light and Cape Elizabeth pacing series, which led to some quick miles and new records for the participants.
The fillies and mares took center stage in race three with Whatchagonnadoboo equalling her seasonal best 1:57.3 in a wire-to-wire romp of the $7,000 Cape Elizabeth split. Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer/owner Eric Bickmore, the sox-year-old daughter of Artspeak picked up her 17th lifetime victory, paying $5 to win. The Letter (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second and Joes Beauty (Ron Cushing) was third.
In the second $7,000 Cape Elizabeth division, SG Alexia took a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3 in her gate-to-wire tour of the facility. Driven by Bruce Ranger for leading conditioner trainer Jeff Deslandes, the five-year-old Betterthancheddar mare pushed her seasonal win total to nine in the effort. Owned by Moo Coo Inc., SG Alexia paid $5.80 to win. Woman In Gold N (Nick Graffam) finished second and Ol Little Shift (Ingraham) was third.
Three $7,000 divisions of the Portland Head Light Series were also scattered throughout the program, with the first going to See You Friday in 1:56.4 Driven by Drew Campbell for trainer Chris Lefebvre and owner Michelle Lefebvre, the nine-year-old son of Western Terror picked up the 23rd win of his career, paying $3 to win. Readyfortheladys (Aaron Hall) finished second and Hulas Boy (Russell Lanpher III) was third.
Miss U Big Mike took the second split for the driving-training team of Dan Delandes and Jeff Deslandes in 1:57, with Silk Road Smash grabbing the final division in 1:57.1 for Drew Campbell and Randy Bickmore.
The fastest mile of the day was in the opener with El Jacko N taking the $6,000 conditioned pace in 1:54.3 for Switzer Jr. and trainer Candace Brandstatter.
Drew Campbell led all drivers on the 12-race card with three victories. Bruce Ranger maintains his ‘top gun’ status with 50 seasonal victories going into the final weekend. Kevin Switzer Jr. is second with 44 and Nick Graffam is third with 37.
Cumberland's final summer weekend of racing resumes on Friday, Aug. 4 at 3:15 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 5 with a special early post time of 2:15 pm.
The Maine Sire Stakes returns to Cumberland on Saturday, Aug. 5 with all divisions of the two- and three-year-old Pine Tree State-bred trotters going postward. The following week the program transitions to the fair circuit with sire stakes racing at Topsham beginning Aug. 7. The third week in August brings the monsters of the midway up to Skowhegan for another full week of Maine harness racing.
(With files from Maine Sires Stakes & First Tracks Cumberland)