Aspiring horse enthusiasts from Camp Kippewa helped usher in Maine’s newest crop of two-year-old pacing fillies on Friday, July 11 at Cumberland Raceway, opening the day’s events with two $15,470 divisions of the Maine Sires Stakes.
In the opening round, just like the 1980’s pop song, the crowd clapped and cheered for Heymickeyyousofine as the two-year-old daughter of Dudes The Man was sent on a wire-to-wire tour of the southern Maine venue.
Trained and driven to victory by John Nason who set fractions of :30.4, 1:04.4 and 1:36, the soon-to-be pop icon is a maiden no more. Pacing her last quarter in :29.3, and winning in 2:05.3 by half a length over even money favourite Perfectly Lovely (Aaron Hall), it was the filly’s first purse start, and first stakes victory.
Paying $4.80 to win, Heymickeyyousofine is owned by Jason Vafiades and was bred in Maine by Kimberly Vafiades, who were both on hand to celebrate the victory.
Dudelookslikeafily (McGwire Sowers) finished third.
In the second $15,470 division favourite McKenna Jeanne protected her pylon position and took command for driver Heath Campbell and set opening fractions of :30 and 1:02.1. The 4-5 favourite acquired some company as the pocket-sitting Snowonthepines (Kevin Switzer Jr.) popped the deuce heading past the 1:33.2 third panel and the pair raced eye-to-eye around the final turn.
Snowonthepines had the momentum off the turn and was hand driven to victory by three parts of a length in 2:03, which established a new speed badge.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, the rambunctious daughter of Dudes The Man paid $6.60 to win.
Shes A Firefly (Nick Graffam) finished third.
Little Macabee won the $10,135 Pop Up Trot Final from well off the pace in 2:03. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Eric Bickmore and owner Maryann Tompkins, the 11-year-old son of Chapter Seven picked up his 43rd career victory and second of the season, paying $12.40.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers with three wins on the program.
Racing continues on Saturday, July 12 and features two $16,337 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.
(with files from First Track Cumberland)