Rocksapatriot used a well-played pocket trip to win the $6,000 Camp Kippewa Pace on Saturday, July 22 at Cumberland.
Scoring from post two for driver Dave Ingraham, the former track record holder ducked in behind pacesetter Fern Hill Flight (Andy Harrington) to draft through the L28.2 opening panel. While moving past the three-eighths pole, Bad And Boujee (Drew Campbell) tipped from sixth to advance first-over through a 58.1 half. That move effectively flushed the cover of Rocksapatroit by the time the field hit the five-eighths pole. The tight pack of local upper echelon pacers hit the third panel in 1:27 and the battle was on. As the field turned for home, Rocksapatriot responded with a final kick to the wire to garner the victory by a measured length in 1:55.4. Fern Hill Flight finished second and Red Breast Hanover (Wally Watson) was third.
Owned and bred by Stephen Farrell, the eight-year-old son of Rockincam paid $3 to win. Rocksapatriot is trained by Kelly Case and picked up the 27th win of his career -- his fourth win of the season from 14 starts.
The race was named for the Camp Kippewa Equestrian Academy, where dozens of campers swarmed the winner's circle to join the winning connections in celebration of their victory.
Current Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) point champion Jason Bertolini won the $4,400 MADC event with his trusty Led Schneppelin in 2:00.1. His fellow competitors made him work for it on Saturday, as he was forced into a first-over trip, parked the entire second half to score by three parts of a length. Bertolini is the owner, trainer and driver of Led Schneppelin, who now has 45 lifetime wins and $364,526 career earnings. Luke Varnum and Pembroke Ranger finished second and fan favourite Putnams Storm and Bob Nadeau were third from post seven.
Hesjustadelight won the lone $14,948 Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings before the regular card. It was a wire-to-wire, five-length rout for the son of Western Maverick. Driven by Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Gibbs, the freshman star took a new 2:01.4 record for owners Cushing, Lynn-Marie Plouffe (also the breeder), Anthony Romanelli and Joseph Romanelli. Last week’s winner, Wess Challenge (Walter Case Jr.), finished second and Oakleypopsthedeuce (Dave Ingraham) was third.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)