First Tracks Cumberland, in collaboration with Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor, are proud to present the $12,500 Maine Legends Pacing Series finals this week in the Pine Tree State.
Tuesday (July 20) at Cumberland is highlighted by the Donald Richards for pacing mares, which held two legs, one at each track, and now has the lucrative final carded as race seven.
Wednesday (July 21) the horses and horsemen ship North to Bangor for the Freeman Parker for male pacers, also vying for the $12,500 final purse, carded as race nine, first post is 3 pm.
Named for a two of the most revered Maine Harness Horsemen of the current era, Freeman Parker and Donnie Richards each amassed more than 4,000 driving wins in their respective careers, spanning numerous decades. Both are well-known and much-admired for their horsemanship and on-track success throughout New England, as well as their humility and kindness off the track.
In the mares final at Cumberland, leading conditioner Benson Merrill sends out a 1-2 punch for the owner entry of The Starter's Call in Media Queen N (HN 1, Post 3, Bruce Ranger) and Post Time Terror (HN 1A, Post 7, Aaron Hall).
Media Queen N has not been worse than second in her last six starts, which includes four victories, including an opening Legends leg division in 1:57 at Cumberland. Her past performances earned the entry 2-1 morning line odds, and coupled with the hands of leading driver Bruce Ranger, she will be tough to beat.
Trainer Kimberley Vafiades sends two uncoupled starters into the mix, the 5-2 morning line second choice Humor Me from post five. The six-year-old Bettors Delight mare won her previous Legends leg in 1:57.3 at Bangor with driver Nick Graffam. The second half of the trainer’s duo is the McArdle mare Mickey Blue (3-1, Post 4, Drew Campbell). Mickey Blue won an opening leg division of the Legends at Cumberland in 1:56.2 and could be a tough contender as well.
Both the Donald Richards and the Freeman Parker Maine Legends pacing series trophies are sponsored by the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association and Blue Seal Feeds.
Tuesday’s card (July 20) also features two divisions of the $10,000e Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for three-year-old male pacers.
Looking ahead to Wednesday (July 21), Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor Legends final race nine pits the Valerine Grondin-trained Gold Star Spider against Southwind Terror, a horse that won five in a row prior to the Legends series.
Gold Star Spider won the first male Legends leg in 1:56.2 at Bangor, and was second to Daliocity last week at Cumberland. Driven by Heath Campbell, he is listed as 9-5 on the morning line from post five.
Southwind Terror drew inside (Post 2) with Nick Graffam driving for trainer Christopher Hitchcock, and has been installed as the 2-1 second choice. Daliocity, who upset last week at 6-1, drew pylon position for driver McGwire Sowers and trainer Sara Gibbs, and gets more respect at 3-1. Approximate post time for the five-horse final is 5:15 p.m. at Bangor.
Live harness racing continues at Cumberland on Wednesday, July 28 and Saturday through July 31, post time is 2:30 p.m., with two additional dates added Wed. & Thurs., Aug. 4 & 5 with 11 a.m. posts.
(Cumberland)