Three geldings and a stud horse could not match strides with the pride of the Cumberland Fairgrounds, Rys Red Rocket, as the five-year-old Sunshine Beach mare shifted into turbo power and blasted away from the Four & Five-Year-Old Open Pace field on Friday (July 15), taking home the lion’s share of the $6,000 purse.
Driver Matty “Ice” Athearn sent the Donnie Richards-trained lass right to the front from post five, hitting the quarter in :27.2. The mare relaxed a bit setting a :57.2 second panel, with Call Me Maverick (Mike Stevenson) sitting comfortably in the two-hole. Captains Reign (Walter Case Jr.) started the outer flow from the back of the pack, followed by Lindas In Heaven (Drew Campbell) second-over.
As the field bunched up down the backside following a 1:26.1 third quarter, Athearn pressed the accelerator on Rys Red Rocket and the mare responded with a powerful thrust to gain some separation on the field as they turned for home.
Rys Red Rocket coasted home a three-length winner in 1:56. Call Me Maverick maintained his position behind the leader down the stretch and to the wire. With the first-over move by Captains Reign ineffective, Drew Campbell moved Lindas In Heaven to the center of the racetrack to make a play for the show dough.
Owned and trained by Donnie Richards, Rys Red Rocket earned her fourth seasonal victory from 12 starts and paid $5.80 to win.
In the two $11,000-plus divisions of the Maine Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, Pembroke Legacy won her fourth consecutive stakes race for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Valerie Grondin and owner/breeder Bill Varney. Pembroke Legacy, who paid $2.20 to win, stopped the clock in 1:59.1.
In the second division, Wolverina grabbed her second Maine-sired event, taking a new seasonal mark of 1:59.1 for driver Nick Graffam and trainer Mike Graffam, who co-owns with Bill Arnold. Wolverina paid $4.60 to win.
In other Maine racing action, Cumberland’s outrider Charlene “Sherry” Cushing jumped out of the saddle and into the race bike to win with trotter Majestic Brayden in 2:02.4, a new seasonal mark. Cushing also trains the eight-year-old son of Majestic Son, who picked up his 25th career victory. Owned by Mike Graham, Majestic Brayden paid $4.80 to win.
Bruce Ranger snagged a driving double on the day’s program.
Racing resumes Saturday (July 16) at 4 p.m., with the 30th racing date of the spring-summer season. Another round of Maine Amateur Driving Club action is on tap, sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds, along with several Open pacing events and a $5,500 Open Trot.
Harness racing at First Tracks Cumberland starts to wind down before Maine’s pari-mutuel fair racing season begins, with the final weekend of the current meet going to post at 4 p.m. next Friday (July 22) and Saturday (July 23).
(First Tracks Cumberland)