This weekend’s card at First Track Cumberland boasts three Polar Express Series finals with the top division going for $15,000. In addition, the track's annual Au Revior Retirement Showcase will be held on Saturday (Dec. 17) with 18 horses all taking their final bow before the fans.
Friday’s (Dec. 16) $10,000 Polar Express Series #1 final, sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds, is headlined by Timbo Slice (Andy Harrington), who won both of his elimination legs in dominant fashion. The three-year-old son of Sunshine Beach is trained and owned by Lester Dancer and will look to complete the sweep of the series. Scoring from post two, Timbo Slice is 5-2 on the morning line. Dancin Hill (Bruce Ranger) is listed as the second choice at 7-2 and leaves from post four. Cee Pee Panic (Nick Graffam) and Cash Crazy Express (Aaron Hall) are the third picks at 4-1 and leave from posts five and six, respectively.
Saturday (Dec. 17) is a big day at the fairgrounds as the $12,000 Polar Express Series #2 final carries a full field of eight. Between each race, two of the 18 ‘Au Revior’ retirees will parade in front of the grandstand while the announcer reads a brief biography as we bid farewell to each 14-year-old. Sporting impressive combined earnings of $5.7 million in purse earnings with an average of $317,000, these retiring or retired Standardbreds will be the shining stars of the day. With a combined win total of 784, these ‘monsters of the midway’ have averaged 43 trips to the winner's circle. Combined, these horses have started 5,552 times in races all over the world.
Of course, the Polar Express Series #2 final, slated as race four, is led by two-time elimination leg winner Rojas Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson). Although the post position draw was unkind to the five-year-old American Ideal mare, she was still installed as the 5-2 favourite from post eight. Amerettigone (Aaron Hall) is the second choice at 3-1 and Bet On Success (Bruce Ranger) rounds out the top three at 7-2. Au Revior participant, Dansun Carruso (Andy Harrington, 6-1) is still going strong and hopes to get a big piece of the prize.
All of the Polar Express finals are sponsored by the good folks at Blue Seal Feeds and their North Yarmouth & Windham locations.
Looking ahead to Sunday (Dec. 18), the $15,000 Polar Express Late Closing Series #3 final also drew enough horses for a $7,500 consolation, races five and three, respectively. After the fourth race, the horsepeople and staff at First Tracks Cumberland will honour racing secretary Marc Reynolds for his dedication and commitment to Maine harness racing over the last several years.
Every race, all weekend long, has a 50-cent Trifecta and the final race each day also features a 20-cent Pentafecta.
The extended pari-mutuel harness racing meet runs for one more weekend after this, with the first post at 11 a.m. each day. During Christmas week, live harness racing will start on Thursday, Dec. 22, continue on Friday, Dec. 23 and conclude for the Winter Festival on Christmas Eve Day, Saturday, Dec. 24.
(First Tracks Cumberland)