With racing in full swing at First Tracks Cumberland one of Maine’s top trotters, Broadway Giant, will be looking for his second win a row. The action starts on Saturday, Nov. 11 and continues on Sunday, Nov. 12 with many of the top classes spread across the full weekend of harness racing.
Saturday’s card features a $5,000 conditioned pace, and 7-2 morning line favourite Real Sancho will attempt to keep his seven-race win streak alive. Handled from post six by Drew Campbell for owner Joey Mosher and trainer Kim Vafiades, the six-year-old son of Real Desire has been unstoppable since mid-September. Looking to play spoiler is Art Of Endurance (9-2, Garrett Mosher) dropping down in class and starting from post two.
The $5,500 conditioned trot opener on Sunday is where Broadway Giant will look to continue his winning ways, having captured three of his last four outings. Driven by Bruce Ranger for owner-trainer Ron Patoine, the nine-year-old son of Broadway Hall has seven wins this year with earnings over $25,000. He scores from the inside pylon position and has been installed as the 6-5 favourite.
In the same event, Little Macabee (3-1, Drew Campbell) seeks his first victory since the summer time, and scores from post three. Trained by Eric Bickmore, the nine-year-old son of Chapter Seven has earned over $38,000 seasonally.
The eighth race is the second leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), with Martaritaondarocks (5-2, Cain MacKenzie, post four) favoured over Canbec Kingkazimir (7-2, Todd Whitney, post five). Last week’s winner Pennys Spirit (7-2, McKenzie Sowers) scores from post seven.
The MADC series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.
Both the Saturday and Sunday cards will have 10 races with full fields. The action includes a Pick 5 starting with the third race; the Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and High-Five Pentafecta in the finale.
For the third season in a row, First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, Dec. 23. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or retired and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program. Equine honourees must be present to participate and must ‘declare’ by Dec. 6. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an email of interest to Chris Tully at [email protected].
Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting, which has weekend action next Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 11 & 12). Cumberland will race three days each week beginning Dec. 1 and continues through Christmas Eve 2023.
(First Tracks Cumberland)