June 30, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts resulted in a shuffling of the deck for this crop of sidesteppers, with two new seasonal winners emerging on Saturday (June 29) at Cumberland Raceway.

Carded as races one and three on the 12-race afternoon program, the Maine faithful bring their some of their best stock to these stakes events, and this week was no exception.  In the first $16,257 division trainer-driver Ron Cushing sent Hesjustadelight (7-2) on a forward trajectory right from the start.

Scoring from post five the son of Western Maverick rolled swiftly out from the start and was hung out by Thru The Fire (10-1, Andy Harrington-Marc Tardif) into a 28.1 opening panel.  With the pair gaining over 10 lengths of separation on the field, Harrington took back and Cushing settled in on the front end before they hit the 3/8s marker. 

With a more forgiving half in 59, the rest of the field started to decrease their lengths behind the leader and move closer to the pace, while the leader hit the third panel in 1:28.2.  Down the backside the second time, 1-9 betting choice Ella V Fella (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Tardif) moved into second place but got rough gaited in the turn as he approached the pacesetter’s helmet.  That allowed Cushing and Hesjustadelight to scamper off and score unfettered by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:59, a new career best.  He paid $9.20 to win.

Owned by Ron Cushing, breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, Anthony and Joseph Romanelli, it was the gelding’s first seasonal victory and fifth lifetime win.

Ella V Fella finished second; Thru The Fire was third.

In the second $16,482 division of the Maine Sire Stakes the favored winner of the last two legs, Justcallmebuck (3-5, Heath Campbell-Gary Hall) left from pylon position and took command through a 28.4 opening panel.  With a more pedestrian half in 1:00.2 the outer flow materialized with Arts Flight (14-1, Harrington-Tardif) first up and stable mate Two Fold Cold (9-1, Switzer-Tardif) second over.

As the pace appeared to be stalling on the front end into a 1:28.4 third panel, Switzer tipped Two Fold Cold three-wide down the backside and set upon the leaders through the final turn.  With a bold move and the momentum behind them, the pair breezed down the lane and got up to win by a length in 1:58.4, a new lifetime mark.  He paid $20.80 to win.

Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, the son of Deuce Seelster was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.  Justcallmebuck hung on to be second; Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.-Tardif) was third.

In other news, So Rock N’Roll extended his win streak to eight, taking the $6,000 featured overnight in 1:54.2, which was a new lifetime mark for the 4-year-old son of Western Maverick.  Trained by Benson Merrill and driven by Bruce Ranger, he paid just $2.20 to win.  Owned and bred by Leighton Property/Lesley Leighton, he came from off the pace once again and overpowered his foes.

Benson Merrill also won the $5,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) with Velocity Sub Z in 1:59.  Owned and trained by Judson Merrill, he paid $16.60 to win. The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Drew Campbell fashioned a driving double, and Benson Merrill enjoyed a training double.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 29, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Trainer Valerie Grondin made a clean sweep of both Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters at Cumberland Raceway on Friday (June 28), the second trainer to do so in as many weeks.

In the pair of $16,000-plus divisions of Pine Tree State-bred harness horses, the Bangor-based conditioner, along with her husband Heath Campbell, are always a formidable force on the local stakes circuit and proved that point once again.

The action began with an early non-betting race for Maine-sired 3-year-old male trotters, where Mark Athearn had sent last week’s winner Carabassett to the top from pylon position.  Following splits of 29.3 and 1:01.3, it appeared as if the pacesetter would have things his own way.

However, driver Drew Campbell piloting Grondin’s Chipper Dale was sitting comfortably in the 2-hole following a 1:31.1 third panel and tipped out in the lane to overcome the leader and score in 2:02.1 by 2-1/4 lengths. 

The sophomore son of Shake It Off Lindy trotted his final quarter in 30.4 and took a new lifetime mark for owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe to take home the lion’s share of the $15,758 purse.  The connections surely have high hopes for Chipper Dale as he won six of eight starts last season.

Carrabassett finished second; Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell-Grondin) was third.

The regular card featured the $16,208 3-year-old filly trot, which was a rematch between last week’s victor, My Saving Grace (Mark Athearn-Gretchen Athearn) and last year’s 2-year-old filly champion Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell-Grondin), who finished second last time out. 

Once again, Athearn left with his filly My Saving Grace, setting reasonable fractions of 30.3 and 1:03.1 to the half.  With the tempo increasing dramatically moving into a 1:33.1 third stanza, Heath Campbell had Pembroke Breeze first up and gaining ground with every stride.  By the head of the stretch the only question was ‘how fast’ and ‘by how many’ the daughter of Pembroke Slugger would be victorious.

The Grondin trainee did everything her aviator asked of her, scoring in 2:03 by 4-3/4 lengths, taking a new lifetime mark in the process.  Owned and bred by Bill Varney, she paid $4.20 to win.

Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing-Charlene Cushing) finished second; My Saving Grace was third.

Friday’s program also included a tribute race, in memory of Frank Dubreuil where dozens of his fellow horsemen, admirers and friends formed a horseshoe tribute at the finish wire in honor of their former presiding judge.

Drivers Kevin Switzer Jr., Walter Case Jr., Aaron Hall and Dave Ingraham had driving doubles on the program.  However, none paid more than ‘Double-Digit’ Dave’s score in the ninth race where he paid $131.40 with the Michel Bilodeau-trained Age Is A Number in 1:58.4.

Looking ahead to Saturday (June 29), Cumberland welcomes back the 3-year-old pacing colts for another round of Maine Sires Stakes action, with two $16,000-plus divisions going postward as races one and three. 

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 28, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine-bred trotters return to First Tracks Cumberland on Friday (June 28) for two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes, where the Athearn’s My Saving Grace will try to make it two-in-a-row as she takes on a handful of fillies in the opener.

The action starts Friday with a single non-betting race at 2:45 pm for Maine-sired 3-year-old male trotters, where Mark and Gretchen Athearn also send last week’s winner Carabassett.  The sophomore son of Boy Band drew pylon position in the early race, and hopes that spot will allow for another wire-to-wire rout where he took a new mark of 2:03.2 for owner Pat Leavitt.

Then the 12-race card opener features the $16,208 3-year-old filly trot, which is a rematch between last week’s victor, My Saving Grace (7-5, Mark Athearn) and last year’s 2-year-old filly champion Pembroke Breeze (6-5, Heath Campbell), who finished second last time out.  Both fillies are intimately familiar with each other, having sparred over ten times and have traded victories almost equally.

Friday’s (June 28) card (post time 3:15 pm) also includes a tribute race, in memory of Frank Dubreuil in race 4, as well as a $5,000 guaranteed 50-cent Pick-4 (races 9-12) with a low 16-percent take out.

Looking ahead to Saturday (June 29), Cumberland welcomes back the 3-year-old pacing colts for another round of Maine Sires Stakes action, with two $16,000-plus divisions going postward as races one and three. 

Leading the charge in the first division is the even money favorite Ella V Fella (Kevin Switzer-Marc Tardif).  A winner of three of five races this season, he leaves from post one and will have to contend with the hard-charging Hesjustadelight (2-1, Ron Cushing) from post five.

In the second $16,482 division the rail-sitting favorite Justcallmebuck (2-1, Heath Campbell-Gary Hall) could very well have things his own way from the inside.  Winner of his last two stakes and three overall, the gray son of Deuce Seelster is clearly on a roll.  Likely to be his biggest threats are a one-two punch from the Tardif Taskforce in Wes’s Challenge (3-1, Walter Case Jr.) and Two Fold Cold (7-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.), who are both winners in their last outings.

Also on Saturday’s 12-race program of full fields includes the featured overnight $6,000 top pace with So Rock N’Roll putting his 7-race win streak on the line in race nine.  In addition, the $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) goes as race five on Saturday.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 24, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – Two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies splashed through the off-going on Sunday (June 23) at Bangor, both resulting in double-digit win tickets.

In the first $16,421 division for sophomore distaffs, the field had to contend with slippery conditions as well as each other.  Behind the gate the 1-9 favorite Gowestyounggrace (Dave Ingraham-Fred Ward) briefly lost her footing and was forced to settle into fifth position as the field entered the first turn.

Heath Campbell sent Who’s Perfect right out for the lead in a 30.4 opening panel, which was swift given the lack of traction.  My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.) settled right in to draft along in second, with Summertime (Steve Wilson) gapping out in third.

Heading into the 1:02.3 decreased tempo half-mile marker Ingraham pulled Gowestyounggrace to the outside and moved first over while advancing from fourth to third. At the 1:32.3 swifter third panel it was clear that the favorite had her work cut out for her as the leader, Who’s Perfect, had put four lengths between them.  However, the loose pocket sitting My Sweet Revenge was gearing up for her challenge, poised to pounce.

As the field turned for home Switzer found another gear and the race was on.  Who’s Perfect battled gamely down the stretch but the 29.3 final quarter fashioned by My Sweet Revenge was too much to overcome, as she prevailed by three-quarters of length at the wire in 2:02.4.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, the daughter of Western Maverick picked up her 3^rd lifetime win and a new record.  Paying a handsome $24.60 to win, she was bred by Laurie Harding and Reginald Duguay.

Gowestyounggrace rallied to be third.

The second $16,197 division was delayed slightly for track maintenance, but nonetheless provided for an exciting stretch drive and another close finish.

When the starting card scurried out of the way driver Drew Campbell scooted to the lead with Mrs Foxy Roxy and found himself on top by five until his brother Heath Campbell blasted past a challenger to grab the two hole with Pembroke Red.  They hit the opening quarter in 31.1 with the rest of the 5-horse field stretched out like a quarter to three.

With the pack tightening up dramatically past the 1:01.2 half, the first to pull to the outside was 3-5 favorite Ghost Of You (Switzer-Tardif), and considering following cover was stable mate Push Your Luck (Walter Case Jr.).  At the 1:32.4 third panel Heath’s charge was breathing down his brother Drew’s neck.  A slingshot move off the turn and Pembroke Red was gaining momentum on the pacesetter, as Ghost Of You was three wide and brushing down the center of the track.

With Drew on the inside and Heath in the middle, it was ‘mano a mano,’ brother against brother in a dog fight sprint down the stretch.  Add-in Swizter and the event developed into a thrilling three-horse race, right down to the finish. 

The wire arrived just in time for Mrs Foxy Roxy who won the family feud over Pembroke Red by a scant neck in 2:04.3.

Trained by James Dunn for owners William McElvain Jr., Diane Dunn and Bradford Veilleux, the daughter of Deuce Seelster grabbed her fifth career victory and a new seasonal mark.  Bred by Kristina and Gary Hall, she paid $16.60 to win.

Ghost Of You finished third by a tight length.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Friday (June 28) at Cumberland with the return of the 3-year-old trotters.  The following day (Saturday, June 29) the sophomore male pacers take center stage at First Tracks.  Post time for both days is 3:15 pm.  The aforementioned group of 3-year-old pacing fillies comes back to Bangor on Sunday (June 30) with the first post at 3:00 pm. 

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

June 23, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Open pacer So Rock N’ Roll continued his winning ways at Cumberland on Saturday (June 22), extending his current win streak to six in the process.

From New England to Monticello and back, the Maine-sired son of Western Maverick has not been off the board since January at the Meadowlands.  Since that time the Benson Merrill-trained 4-year-old has rattled off eight wins in nine starts.  Prior to Saturday, he had won the $8,000 Open at Monticello for three straight weeks with McGuire Sowers in the bike.  Subsequently, he was given his walking papers and sent back to Maine.

Bruce Ranger got the call from the assigned seven hole, where they got away fourth, allowing Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham, 11-1) to call the shots through a 28.3 opening panel.  Instant Replay (Walter Case Jr., 6-5) sat in a loose pocket while Ranger tipped the proud son of the Pine Tree State first over going into a 58.4 modest half.

By the time the seasoned sidesteppers hit the 1:26.2 third panel, So Rock N’ Roll was neck and neck with the pacesetter Rocksapatriot.  The pair battled stride for stride around the final turn and down through the length of the stretch.  With a slightly faster grind, the even-money favorite was able to get up by half a length to prevail in 1:55, equaling his seasonal best.

Owned by Leighton Property and bred by Lesley Leighton it was the 19^th win of his career, pushing his lifetime bankroll to $283,541.  He paid $4.20 to win.

Instant Replay hung on to be third.

A lone $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) saw leading point earner Hunter Lofthus also continue his reign of terror, winning in a wire-to-wire romp with Lisa Watson’s Jo Pa’s Sweet Lou.  Scoring from post 6, ‘Hot Lead’ Lofthus put the 8-year-old son of Sweet Lou right on the point and never looked back. 

Several would-be challengers came and went throughout the course of the mile, but Lofthus kept all of them in his wake and strolled home to victory in 1:58.3.  They paid $12.00 to win.  Southern Winds (Todd Whitney) finished second; Furious Beach (Mike Girouard) was third.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Lofthus started a trend which some may call a ‘punters paradise’ as the next four races all enjoyed double-digit win payouts.  Then, Garret Mosher drove Gardys Legacy A (1:57.2) to a $31.00 upset in race 9, and Wally Watson scored with local favorite Airspinder (1:56.1) paying $44.80 in race 10. 

Drivers Aaron Hall and Bruce Ranger each picked up a pair of victories on the 12-race card. 

In the early Learn and Earn 2-year-old events, John Nason cruised to a 12-length victory in the opener with Marvin’s Choice in 2:06.3.  The son of Jug winner Courtly Choice (NY) is owned by Carolyn Corso and Katharine Nason and was bred by Winbak Farm. 

In the second non-betting race Kim Ireland also cut the fractions with Joyous Spirit to win in 2:17.2.  The daughter of sub-1:50 trotter Six Pack (NJ) is owned by Dennis and Deborah Foss and was bred by Mike Andrew.

In the third event John Nason rolled to another front-end victory with Ridgecrest Dan in 2:04.  The son of Adios winner Dude’s The Man (ME) is owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps and was bred by Jason Vafiades.  The Tardiff Taskforce picked up many of the remaining spots with their pupils finishing second, third, fourth and sixth in that event.

The final race was captured by Katahdin Victor in 2:08.1, which was more impressive than it sounds.  Following a miscue at the start, driver Wally Watson regrouped and was back 15 lengths at the quarter pole.  First over and back 8 at the half, the trotter had assumed command by the third panel, and went on to win handily by a length.  Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder James and Betsey Kelley, the gelded son of Victor Blue Chip (ME) looks like he actually trotted in 2:05 and a piece to make up all that lost real estate.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (June 28) at 3:15 pm.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 22, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Mark Athearn and trainer Gretchen Athearn swept a pair of Maine Sire Stakes trotting events on Friday (June 21) at Cumberland Raceway, recreating a similar instance last season where the same two youngsters won their stakes debuts on the same day.

It was like Déjà vu all over again when in the $15,758 early non-wagering event Athearn’s Carrabassett went right to the top and never looked back, scoring by 9 open lengths in 2:03.2.  The sophomore son of Boy Band did the same thing in his first pari-mutuel race in 2023, winning in a pedestrian 2:11.3.  Reducing his mark by nearly 8 seconds, it was his first trip back to the winner’s circle since last July.  Owned by Patrick Leavitt, he was bred by the late Mike Andrew.

Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) last season’s freshman champion finished second; Chipper Dale (Drew Campbell) was third.  They were both trained by Valerie Grondin.

In the $16,208 opener for Maine-sired 3-year-old trotting fillies, Athearn took matters into his own hands once again and repeated his wire-to-wire journey with My Saving Grace in 2:05.1.  The Shake It Off Lindy filly won her first three starts last year, and went on to capture a total of five Maine Sire Stakes on the season.  Taking a new mark for Team Athearn, she is owned by Margaret Thyng and paid $7.60 to win by a length.  She was bred by Leighton Property.

Last year’s distaff champ and 1-2 favorite Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell) finished second; Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) was third.

Next, a pair of $16,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward as races 3 and 4 on the 13-race pari-mutuel card.

Justcallmebuck just keeps on winning as the son of Deuce Seelster grabbed his third in a row for driver Heath Campbell and trainer Gary Hall.  Slicing through the beam in 1:59.1, the duo provided a meager $2.20 payoff as the 1-9 heavy favorite.  Owned and bred by Kristina Hall, it was the gray colt’s second consecutive stakes victory, and another wire-to-wire romp.

What’s For Suppah (Aaron Hall-Michelle Hardin) finished a fast-closing second; Chance Worth Tryin (Drew Campbell-Kevin Chase) was third.

The Tardif Taskforce nearly swept the final $16,416 event, with their charges taking first, second and fourth places.  Aaron Hall left swiftly with Ron Cushing’s Hesjustadelight, setting an opening panel of 29.1.  They paced in single file fashion to the 59.2 half, where 1-2 favorite Ella V Fella (Kevin Switzer Jr.) moved first over from fifth position. While he embarked on that mission to improve his position, that attempt proved unsuccessful as stable mate Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.) popped the deuce and took command past the 1:28.1 third stanza.

Storming home in 1:58, the son of Deuce Seelster paid $7.20 to win, who was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.  Art’s Flight (Andy Harrington-Mark Tardif) picked up the pieces and finished second; Hesjustadelight hung on to be third; Ella V Fella was fourth.

Driver Drew Campbell had four wins on the card, and Mark Athearn won three which included the early non-betting race.

Racing resumes on Saturday (June 22) which brings the Learn & Earn 2-year-old races back with four non-wagering events starting at 1:30 pm.  The regular card begins promptly at 3:15 pm with a 12-race program of full fields, including the featured $6,000 top pace in race 11.

A single $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) rings the bell for the opener on Saturday.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 20, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland hosts four $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on Friday (June 21) when the southern oval begins a stretch of 30 races over the weekend.

The action starts Friday with a single non-betting race at 2:45 pm for Maine-sired 3-year-old male trotters.  Then the 13-race card opener features the $16,208 3-year-old filly trot, led by last year’s frosh filly champion Pembroke Breeze.  The Valerie Grondin-trained lass by Pembroke Slugger has been listed as 6-5.  Heath Campbell gets the call from post 4.

Pine Tree State racing continues in races 3 and 4 with the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers which was rescheduled due to the cancellation of the Wednesday (June 19) Bangor program. 

Last week, the fastest of the two divisions of sophomore pacing boys was captured by Gary Hall’s Just Call Me Buck in 1:57.4.  The 3-year-old son of Deuce Seelster won his last pair of outings and will be looking to make this race a three-peat performance.  Installed as the 6-5 early morning line favorite, Heath Campbell gets the assignment.

Second choice What’s For Suppah (3-1, Aaron Hall) will try to crash the party from his outermost post position five.  Owned and trained by Michelle Hardin, he is also a son of Deuce Seelster and would like to get the lion’s share of the $16,191 purse in race 3.

In the second $16,416 division in race 4, Ella V Fella got pushed to the outside, but was still installed as the 7-5 favorite with Kevin Switzer Jr. driving.  With victories in all three of his seasonal starts, the son of Artistic Fella was bred by Marc Tardif, who also owns and trains. 

Looking to upset the apple cart will be Wes’s Challenge (3-1, Walter Case Jr.).  Another Tardif disciple, this is the colt’s first inside post position since Labor Day, so look for him to fire out of there swiftly.

Friday’s (June 21) regular card (post time 3:15 pm) carries 13 races with all of the standard and exotic betting options, including our popular 50-cent Pick-5 (races 3-7) with a low 16-percent take out.

Saturday (June 22) brings the Learn & Earn 2-year-old races back with four non-wagering events starting at 1:30 pm.  The regular card begins promptly at 3:15 pm with a 12-race program of full fields, including the featured $6,000 top pace in race 11.

A single $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) rings the bell for the opener on Saturday.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

June 16, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Last year’s freshmen pacing filly champion Gowestyounggrace picked right up where she left off in the Maine Sire Stakes, taking the faster of two $16,196 divisions at Cumberland on Saturday (June 15).

Heavily favored Gowestyounggrace (1-9) and driver Dave Ingraham got away fourth in the field of five, with Heath Campbell taking point with Who’s Perfect (10-1) through a 29.2 opening panel.

Sensing the modest pace, Ingraham pulled the daughter of Western Maverick at the three-eighths pole and moved swiftly to match strides alongside the leader at a 1:00 half.  Those two got some separation from the field as they fought tooth and nail to the three-quarter pole, resulting in a stinging 1:28.1 stanza.

The battle continued through the far turn and into the head of the stretch, with Gowestyounggrace finding another gear to out sprint the Valerie Grondin-trained pacesetter and score by a measured length in 1:58.2.

Trained by Fred Ward Jr., who co-owns with Sharon Ward, it was the first seasonal victory and a new lifetime mark for the 2023 Pine Tree State 2-year-old pacing filly final winner.  She paid just $2.20 to win, and increased her bankroll to $66,641.

Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr. – Marc Tardif) finished third.

In the other $16,196 division, the Tardif Taskforce showed that they have plenty of quills in their quiver as they sent two of their four 3-year-old filly pacers into this skirmish.

When the wings folded Heath Campbell sent Pembroke Red right to the front from post two, as the Tardif fillies merged into traffic close behind.  Favored My Sweet Revenge (Switzer) followed along in the 2-hole, with Push Your Luck (Walter Case Jr.) settling in third.

No movement occurred through the 29.2 opening panel, nor by the laxer 1:01.2 half.  Heading down the backstretch for the final time Case pulled Push Your Luck to the outside and made a swift move to challenge the leader into a 1:31.1 third panel.

As the field turned for home Push Your Luck put a nose in front and continued to gain momentum and ground as Case steered the daughter of Thirty Two Red to a maiden-breaking victory in 2:01.2.

Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif it was just the filly’s eighth lifetime start and only second time on the board.  She paid $6.60 in redeeming victory as the third wagering choice.

Pembroke Red (Campbell-Grondin) held on for second; even-money first choice My Sweet Revenge (Switzer-Tardif) ran out of racing room and had to settle for third.

Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Wednesday (June 19) at Bangor (post time 3 pm) with the return of the 3-year-old male pacers, and then on Friday (June 21) Cumberland hosts several divisions for 3-year-old trotters (post 3:15 pm).

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

June 14, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – A sure sign of summer is the return of the young, Maine bred Standardbreds to the racetrack.  The weekend kicks off with four ‘Learn and Earn’ 2-year-old Baby Races on Friday (June 14), before the regular card at 1:45 pm.  Then, the Maine Sire Stakes convenes on Saturday (June 15) when Cumberland Raceway will host two $16,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old filly pacers. 

Friday’s (June 14) regular card (post time 3:15 pm) carries 11 races with all of the standard and exotic betting options, including our popular 50-cent Pick-5 (races 3-7) with a low 16-percent take out.

The co-featured $4,800 trots in races 3 and 8 contain several interesting entrants who are moving up after a win, or conversely, some who are looking for a softer landing spot.  In any case, the combinations will give punters plenty of options with the full fields and competitive pairings.

Looking ahead to Saturday (June 15) the triumphant return of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes witnesses a couple of the top three finishers in last season’s $51,023 freshmen filly final returning to the action.

In the first $16,196 stake race My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.) has been pegged as the 9-5 second choice from post 6.  Trained by Marc Tardif, the daughter of Western Maverick finished third in last year’s final, but will have to contend with Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell) from post 2.  Trained by Valerie Grondin, the daughter of Thirty Two Red is listed as the 7-5 favorite.

Last year’s champion Gowestyounggrace highlights the second division.  To be driven by Dave Ingraham for trainer Fred Ward Jr., the daughter of Western Maverick has been installed as the 6-5 early morning line favorite from post 4.  Ghost Of You (2-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) scores outside of the favorite for trainer Marc Tardif, and the Deuce Seelster filly already has a 2:00.3 win this season.

In other action, Instant Replay looks for a repeat performance from his victory last week, scoring from post 2 in the $6,000 featured (race 7) overnight event.  Regular pilot Walter Case Jr. returns for trainer George ‘Triple Sticks’ Fenno III.

Two $5,000 divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) go postward as races 5 and 8, with many of the usual suspects looking for bragging rights among the tight knit horsemen’s community.  Top point earner Hunter “Hot Lead” Lofthus will be looking for his fifth victory in a row as he has two mounts on the card.  As always, the MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout the Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3. 

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

–30—

June 13, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – Justcallmebuck showed fans of the Maine Sire Stakes that he is one to watch in the glamour boys division for 3-year-old male pacers, scoring in 1:57.4 on Wednesday (June 12) at historic Bass Park.

Two $16,416 divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes went postward in the opening two races on the afternoon card, premiering what looks like another exciting season of Pine Tree State-sired harness racing.

As the wings folded in the opener Aaron Hall blasted Whats For Suppaah out to the lead to protect his pylon position, with Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.) and Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell) charging hard from their respective outside post positions and settling in behind the pacesetter.

Campbell and Justcallmebuck had nary a moment’s rest in the three hole as they were back out and rolling to the top and setting a snappy 28.3 opening tempo.

The first to the outer flow was Arts Flight (Kevin Switzer Jr.) who kept the developing colt’s attention through a 59.1 half.  Case had Wes’s Challenge poised to pounce second over as the field moved down the backstretch and into the 1:28.3 third panel, with Hall maintaining a strong hold on Whats For Suppaah who was locked in the pocket.

Case swung Wes’s Challenge three wide around the final turn to challenge for the lead and appeared to have caught the pacesetter.  However, Campbell shook the lines at Justcallmebuck and the 3-year-old son of Deuce Seelster responded to hold the would-be spoiler at bay.

The final time of 1:57.4 was a new lifetime mark for the homebred property of Kristina Hall, prevailing by half of a measured length.  Trained by Gary Hall, he paid $3.20 to win for the second time in his career.

Wes’s Challenge finished second; Whats For Suppah was third.

In the second $16,461 division of 3-year-old Maine-bred male pacers, the Tardif Taskforce entry prevailed, despite the most accomplished part of the prohibitive betting choice, Two Fold Cold, being scratched sick.

Hejustadelight (Ron Cushing) last year’s freshmen champion took the field to the opening quarter in a smooth 29.1, with the field of five strung out by well over 10 lengths.  As the single file queue passed the stands for the first time Kevin Switzer Jr. moved Ella V Fella from the back of the pack to range up toward the leaders, passing the half in 59.4.

Ella V Fella caught the leader going down the backstretch and those two began their own race, scampering swiftly away from the rest of the pack.  With Hejustadelight on the inside, and Ella V Fella on the outside, the stubborn pair exchanged strides until the 1:29.4 third panel where the aggressor waved goodbye and paced away from the former leader and gained command through the final turn.

Scoring by three lengths, the 3-year-old son of Artistic Fella shaved a tick off his lifetime mark by stopping the timer in 1:58.1.  Ella V Fella, the 1-5 favorite was bred, and is owned and trained by Marc Tardif, paying $2.40 to win his third consecutive outing.

Hejustadelight finished second; CBF Windy Fella (Dave Ingraham) was third.

Maine Sire Stake resumes on Saturday (June 15) as First Tracks Cumberland hosts two $16,196 divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies, which are slated as races one and three on the regular card.  First post is 3:15 pm. 

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com