July 6, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Walter Case Jr., who ranks 9th on the all-time dash wins list among active drivers, added six victories to his lifetime total of 11,395 on Friday (July 5) at Cumberland Raceway.
‘Casey’ started his six pack by taking both $15,986 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
The first division he captured with Massive Speed, using a two-hole trip to grab the lead in mid-stretch and get the son of Dude’s The Man a new 2:01.4 race record. Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, he was bred by Laurie Harding and paid $2.40 to win.
Pacesetter Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason) finished second; Dude’s Wanted Man (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) was third.
Case came right back in the second division to score with the Tardif-trained Jax Attack in 2:05. Again utilizing a pocket trip to score with the heavy favorite, the son of Deuce Seelster paid $2.40 for owner Leighton Property. He was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.
Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham-Fred Ward Jr.) finished second; Ella V Dude (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.
Case won his third race of the afternoon with another Tardif-trained pupil Pickmepickme in 1:57, paying $3.00 to win. Then he continued his reign of terror in race eight with Royalty Again (1:58.1, $6.60); race 11 with To My Credit (1:59.4, $2.60); and race 12 with Virtual Success (1:58.1, $14.00).
Looking ahead to Saturday (July 6), Cumberland welcomes all the 2-year-old trotters for their first Maine Sires Stakes action, with two $15,000-plus divisions going postward as races one and three. The filly trotters are first up in race one, and are led by Pandemic Princess (8-5, Campbell-Grondin)
Race three gives five trotting colts and gelding their time in the spotlight. Katahdin Victor (6-5, Wallace Watson-Lisa Watson) is the early favorite and has already shown some flashes of brilliance.
Also on Saturday’s 12-race program of full fields is a $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) goes as race four. 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/
