Two $15,000-plus USD divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlight the card at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday, June 27 with the formerly unbeaten Real Horrorshow looking to avenge his only lifetime loss.
Last week’s 1-9 favourite and freshman champion, Real Horrorshow, got caught at the wire by Rebels Revenge in 1:58.4 at Bangor. Matched up again in the $15,434 USD first division of sophomore colts, also known as the ‘glamour boys’ group, the pair square off in race seven with Rebels Revenge listed as the 9-5 co-favorite from post two with Aaron Hall driving for trainer Marc Tardif. The senior Kevin Switzer co-owns and trains Real Horrorshow (9-5, post six) who gets the services of Kevin Switzer Jr. in the bike.
What happens when the gate closes is anyone’s guess, but the wagering public may be willing to give Real Horrorshow a mulligan for last week’s loss and bet him down to the heavy favourite, once again. Despite being saddled with an outside post, the son of Dudes The Man has shown that he can get off the car in a hurry and position himself where he likes to be — on the front end.
In addition, Rebels Revenge may have been a little tighter, having had two additional starts under his belt prior to the opening round of the Maine Sire Stakes. Regardless, it will be a long season and it will be interesting to see how these two match up in the weeks and months to follow.
Dudes The Jet (PP4, Dave Ingraham, 3-1) also hails from the Tardif Taskforce, was third against this group last time out, and rounds out the top three in the first split.
In the other $15,659 USD division the 9-5 early morning line favourite is Daytoremember (Heath Campbell, PP6). The Valerie Grondin-trained, owned and bred son of Dudes The Man won last week’s second division and looks to repeat against a similar cast of characters.
Marc Tardif sends three into this mix, including second choice Itsjustmoney (PP5, Switzer Jr., 3-1) whose ‘off the pace’ style may suit him well from post five. Ghost Of Winter (PP3, Hall, 7-2) and Nuh Uh (PP7, Andy Harrington, 12-1) round out the Tardif troika.
This weekend is First Tracks Cumberland’s final June weekend of Saturday-Sunday cards. During July the schedule reverts back to Friday-Saturday, with the exception of the three-day run from Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26 during the penultimate weekend of the meet. In addition, there will be no racing Friday, July 3, a federal holiday.
First post Saturday is 12:15 p.m. (EDT)
(First Tracks Cumberland)