This "Trottin’ Friday" card at Cumberland Raceway features the diagonally gaited set in three of the nine races programmed, including the $5,500 USD top level conditioned/optional claiming trot.
Trainer/driver Aaron Hall has Bill Phipps’ Jax Spratt (pictured above) in peak condition and has not missed a cheque with the horse in his last seven outings. The five-year-old son of Devious Man has earned $134,118 lifetime and has enjoyed 20 trips to the winner's circle. The consistent trotter has a win and a second-place finish in his last four starts, leaving mostly from the outer tier of the starting car. Saddled with post seven for his next test, he installed as the 5-1 third choice.
Jax Spratt’s biggest threat comes from the pylon positioned 9-5 choice McStoned Again (McGwire Sowers), who is also an accomplished racehorse, having won 28 times in his five-year racing career. Also getting the trackman’s consideration at 5-2 is post four starter Rose Run Yakim (Drew Campbell), who is coming off a win in his last start against a lesser bunch.
The action kicks off at 3:15 p.m. on Friday and includes several exotic wagers. Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race and continues with a Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, then concludes with a High-Five Pentafecta in the final race — all with low 16 per cent takeouts.
Saturday's card carries eight races and hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club event in race two. The $4,000 USD purse attracted a full field of eight entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. Todd Whitney drives the favourite, Hoosier Shark, from post four.
The faster pacers meet in the $5,500 USD fifth race conditioned pace. Zack Vickerson trains and drives the 3-1 favourite, Heavensway A. The 11-year-old son of Bettors Delight races without the claiming tag and looks to improve upon his uncharacteristic miscue in his last outing. Former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (Dave Ingraham), at 7-2 on the morning line, is steadily improving and will look to mix things up a bit.
First Tracks Cumberland's Spring/Summer Meet will continue with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend through Aug. 2.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)