Fast-class speedster Ranaldi won the fastest of two $11,429 second-leg divisions of a Pop-Up Series on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Cumberland Raceway, giving red-hot reinsman Drew Campbell a hat trick on the mid-day card.
Leaving from pylon position, horse and driver left nothing to chance as the pair remained on point for the entirety of the performance. Posting fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27 to the three-quarters, it appeared that 1-9 favourite Ranaldi would have little pressure from the rest of the field. But that all changed in deep stretch when pocket-sitting Drinka Beer (Andrew Harrington) took aim at the leader. Under the shadow of the wire, Drinka Beer was chugging away at the pacesetter’s advantage, but Ranaldi managed to prevail by a quarter of a length in 1:57. Denver Seelster (Dave Ingraham) finished third.
Owned and trained by Dakota Niles, the five-year-old son of Western Maverick was bred in Maine by Ron Cushing. He paid $2.20 to win while recording his second consecutive victory in the series and seventh win of the year from 33 starts.
The second division was captured by Lexus Witha View A, who sat a perfect two-hole trip to outstep Hoosier Shark (Walter Case Jr.) in deep stretch and win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.1. Sarahs Lilly (McGwire Sowers) was third.
Driven by Nick Graffam for trainer Jamie Gerard, the 10-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere is also co-owned by Gerard with Strategic Racing Stable. Also a repeat winner in the series, Lexus Witha View A returned $3.60 to his backers at the betting windows while recording his fifth victory of the season from 28 starts.
The final of the pacing series, which is for non-winners of $30,000 in 2024, is slated for Saturday, Dec. 21 and carries a purse of $12,500 USD.
Ryan Berry steered JK Lucky Charms to a 7-1/4-length rout over his Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) comrades, winning the $5,714 event in 1:59.2. Trained by Allison MacDonald for owner Amy Weeks, the seven-year-old son of Sweet Lou grabbed his ninth seasonal victory in 38 starts, paying $12.60 to win.
Next week’s Maine Amateur final will boasts a purse of $8,000 USD. As always, the MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.
Drivers Nick Graffam and Aaron Hall both had a pair of winners on the program. Drew Campbell led all drivers this weekend with 13 wins and now has a whopping 47 victories over the last 16 days of the winter meet. Campbell now leads all Cumberland drivers for the year with 89 wins. Kevin Switzer Jr. is second with 84 and Walter Case Jr. is third with 59.
Racing resumes on Friday, Dec. 20 for the final weekend of the Winter Festival, which concludes on Dec. 22. Post time for the three race cards is 10:55 a.m. The track's Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21, with a total of 12 entries to be paraded in front of their loyal Maine fan base, but those that are still racing will be eligible to participate in the $6,000 USD Auld Lang Syne for 14-year-old pacers.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)