On a day when the total cumulative handle at First Tracks Cumberland is expected to eclipse $1 million, three Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes (MSBS) divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings headline the 11-race, holiday weekend program on Saturday (July 3).
The so-called ‘glamour boys’ division is the third leg of the 13-race series, which travels to the two commercial tracks and the Maine pari-mutuel fair circuit, culminating in the $80,000 added final on Oct. 16 at Bangor.
The likely odds-on favourite in the $9,692 opener is Edelman, a gelding by Western Maverick who is looking for his fourth consecutive victory. Touting sire stakes wins at both Bangor and Cumberland, the Heidi-Gibbs-trained sophomore scores from post two with regular driver, breeder and co-owner Ron Cushing. The leading point earner in the series, Edelman is also co-owned by Kevin Sywyk.
American Maverick, another son of Western Maverick, will surely try to assert his independence and capture some of the day’s glory. Trained by Mark Tardif and driven by Kevin Switzer Jr., American Maverick leaves from post three and needs a win to jump up in the point standings from eighth. He was bred by Leslie Leighton and is now owned by Leighton Property.
Likely to get the first call in the $9,918 third race is Call Me Maverick, who leads the pack in the second division of the MSBS. Sitting second in the point standings, the son of Western Maverick is trained by Gordon Corey and returns to his home track, where he won the first leg of the Maine Sires in 1:59.3. Mike Stevenson gets the call on the Upland Farms homebred.
Looking to continue his good fortune is A Sweet Bidda Luck. Another son of Western Maverick who won his last MSBS at Bangor in 1:59, he looks to keep his luck from running out. Trained by Heidi Gibbs and owned by Philip Scott McKenzie, A Sweet Bidda Luck will leave from post two with Ron Cushing steering his fortunes. Fourth in the point standings, he was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.
Hollywood Skeeter looks to sting his competitors in this third race. Scoring from post five with reinsman Nick Graffam, the son of Cheyenne Hollywood is trained and owned by breeder Michael Graffam. Entrenched in third in the point standings, Hollywood Skeeter is comfortable coming from off the pace to buzz down the long Cumberland stretch.
The $9,918 third and final division of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake looks for morning line favourite Paxxton to and assert his place in the ‘Sons of Western Maverick’ hierarchy. Driven by Heath Campbell, he is harnessed by Valerie Grondin, who just eclipsed 2,000 career training wins. Valerie Grondin is also the co-owner with Rhoda Underhill. Paxxton was bred by Warren and Joan Harp and is seventh in the point standings.
Leaving from inside Paxxton are Lord Magnetic (post one, Matt Athearn) and Whatawinwillie (post two, Switzer); both have won previous legs of the MSBS this season, and both are owned by their breeders: Jason Vafiades and Marc Tardif, respectively.
Back again for their sixth week with two more fun-filled episodes are the ever-popular, always growing Maine Amateur Driving Club series, sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.
Starring in the first show is the MADC $3,800 ‘B’ group in race six, which pits point frontrunner Charles “Butch” Eaton against a group of gung-ho reinsmen looking to unseat the leaders. Eaton drives his own Keystone Camaro from post two, while returning winner Derek Howes tries to get Sunset Over Miami to redeem last week’s performance. Always ready to shake things up are Plus One and Joe Burke from post seven, to be joined by Bob “The Elder Statesman” Nadeau and his trusty grey steed Putnams Storm.
The Maine Amateurs $4,800 ‘A’ group, is headlined by Middle Aged Crazy, driven by her co-owner Valerie Grondin from post five. Just inside is the Michael Girouard-trained-and-driven Rockin Ellie, who takes a significant drop in class to compete in here. Making his seasonal debut in the MADC ranks is Stephen LaCasse with his own Nets Of Passion. Leaving from the outside post six, the consistent 1:57-and-a-piece pacer will have his work cut out for him in this bunch.
Returning to Cumberland to make the presentations to the winning amateur connections is Melanie Locke, store manager for both the local Blue Seal feed stores and presenting the ‘swag bucket’ trophies of stable supplies on behalf of the Windham and North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feed stores.
Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through July 31 at 2:30 p.m., with two additional dates added — Aug. 4 and 5 at 11 a.m. For more information, go to firsttrackscumberland.com.
(First Tracks Cumberland)