July 11, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photo)

BANGOR, ME – Marc Tardif’s Two Fold Cold took the overland route to win his division of the Maine Sire Stakes, breaking the track record on Wednesday (July 10) at historic Bass Park in the process.

In fact, with Andy Harrington driving for trainer Marc Tardif, the pair swept both $16,000-plus divisions of the Pine Tree state-bred stakes for 3-year-old male pacers at Bangor.

In the first $16,291 event, Two Fold Colt got away third from his pylon position.  Hesjustadelight (7-2, Ron Cushing) and Wes’s Challenge (9-2, Walter Case Jr.) went out for the early lead, with those two matching strides into the first turn resulting in a swift 28.3 opening panel.  With Cushing’s Hesjustadelight on point, Harrington moved Two Fold Cold first over to challenge the pacesetter into a softer 58.4 half. 

Down the backside the 1-2 favorite Two Fold Cold was still parked as the pair battled through a 1:26.3 (27.4) third panel.  Finally clearing by the top of the long, far turn Harrington hit the afterburners and the son of Deuce Seelster responded with a strong closing kick to draw away from the field and score by 4-1/2 lengths in a benchmark smashing 1:55.2.

The mile was the fastest ever paced by a 3-year-old gelding pacer at Bangor, which eclipsed the standard set by Gordon Corey’s Call Me Maverick in 2021.

Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, Two Fold Cold was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, paying $3.00 to win.

Wes’s Challenge got up for second; Hesjustadelight was third.

In the second $16,191 division of the Maine Sire Stakes Team Tardif was at it again, with Arts Flight and Harrington scoring a stakes race double on the late afternoon card.

1-5 favorite Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell-Gary Hall) ‘pushed the starting gate out of the way’ exclaimed track announcer Mick Sweeney, as they rolled into a 30.2 first quarter with Arts Flight (2-1, Harrington) in tow.

The pacesetting favorite had things his own way into a modest 1:00.4 half, but then pushed a little faster through the 1:30 third stanza with Art’s Flight sticking to him like glue.

Harrington pulled the pocket with the son of Artistic Fella at the top of the far turn, and despite swinging wide off the turn the colt sped home in 28.2 to upset the heavy favorite in 1:58.4 by three parts of a length.

Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, and bred by Lynne-Marie Plouffe, he paid $6.40 to win.

Justcallmebuck finished second; CBF Windy Fella (Dave Ingraham-David Crochere) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes reconvenes this week at Cumberland with two $15,000 divisions of the 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday (July 12), and continues at Cumberland the following day (Saturday, July 13) with a single $15,000 division for 2-year-old filly pacers. 

The next day, all divisions of trotters return to historic Bass Park on Sunday (July 14).

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

July 8, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – Two $15,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters led the holiday weekend charge on Sunday (July 7) at Bangor, with driver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin sweeping both events.

In the first $15,578 stakes race, which was a non-wagering event held before the regular card, the three male high-steppers were eager to get things started.  As the pylon-positioned Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) protected his inside status, stable mate Chipper Dale (Drew Campbell) jumped off stride before the starting gate had sprung.  This allowed Carrabassett (Mark Athearn) to grab the two-hole and track behind the pacesetter into a 30.3 opening panel.

Heading through the 1:03.3 modest half-mile marker Chipper Dale had recovered from his early miscue and regained contact with the field.  Carrabasset maintained his pocket trip until the 1:35 third panel where he made a move to the outside.

Charging down the stretch Pembroke Will could feel the walls closing in around him, yet maintained his composure, and his will power, to hold off the late charge of stable mate Chipper Dale and a tiring Carrabassat.

Scoring by a head in 2:04.4, it was Pembroke Will’s first seasonal victory which also resulted in a new lifetime mark.  Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin and owner-breeder Bill Varney, the son of Pembroke Slugger upped his lifetime earnings to $79,176.

Stable mate Chipper Dale threw in a 29.2 last quarter to be second; Carrabassett was third.

The second $15,983 Maine Sire Stakes of the afternoon opened the regular betting card for the distaff 3-year-old trotters.

At the start Pembroke Breeze (Heath Campbell) held on to her position on the pegs at the start and rolled through a 31.1 opening panel with My Saving Grace (Mark Athearn) sticking close in second and Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) cruising along in third.  At the 1:02.3 half the order had not varied, however, Cushing had pulled his filly to the outside to challenge.  By the 1:32.2 third panel Twisted Venture had advanced to second position, albeit uncovered on the outside, while the leader Pembroke Breeze was allowed to trot unfettered.

As the field turned for home the pacesetter had gained separation on the field and the daughter of Pembroke Slugger drew off to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 2:02.2.  Once again driver Heath Campbell and trainer Valerie Grondin displayed their collective prowess in the Maine Sire Stakes and took home another trophy for owner-breeder Bill Varney.  Pembroke Breeze paid $2.20 to win and take a new career record.

Twisted Venture finished second; My Saving Grace was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Wednesday (July 10) when the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers return to historic Bass Park.

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

July 7, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Maine’s 2-year-old trotters rolled into their first sires stakes action of the season on Saturday (July 6), with two $15,000-plus divisions opening the 12-race card at Cumberland Raceway.   

The diagonally gaited distaffs were the first $15,816 group out of the gate with the usual growing pains associated with green trotters. Following a few miscues after the start Ken Watson got Lady Lake Marty (6-1, Whataworkout) away from the gate cleanly and was on top by eight into a swift 30 second opening panel.  In a more subdued 1:02 half, the pair were on top by twelve and then eight lengths at the 1:34.1 third panel. 

That lead expired quickly when the pacesetting filly jumped it off while trotting into the final turn, allowing Pandemic Princess and Heath Campbell (9-5, Whataworkout) to roll through the apex and take command.  Down the stretch they strode to a 7-1/4 length score in 2:06.3.

Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner-breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe, the duo paid $5.60 to win.

Katahdin Mistress (Wally Watson-Lisa Watson) finished second; Lady Lake Marty hung on for third.

The boys hopped into the fray next, vying for their share of the $16,028 Maine Sire Stakes purse.

The first to leave was Ken Watson with Whatawonder (9-2, Whataworkout) who cleared sharply and took the field into a moderate 31.2 first quarter.  Gapping out in the pocket was Mark Athearn with Iron Mike (5-1, Whataworkout) while heading to the 1:05 half, forcing Walter Case Jr. to come first over with Liberty’s Wildcard (2-1, Noble Venture).

Thru the paddock turn the second time Liberty’s Wildcard jumped, prompting Wally Watson and Katahdin Victor (4-5, Victor Blue Chip) to move first over into a 1:36 swifter third panel.  With Iron Mike on his inside Katahdin Victor grabbed second position, as the leader, Whatawonder, was on top by eight by the head of the stretch.

No further changes in the marching orders were realized as the pacesetter sailed home in 2:07.1.  Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder Barbara Lawson, he paid $11.80 to win. 

Katahdin Victor finished second; Iron Mike was third.

Our favorite octogenarian was at it again this week, scoring another victory with N Expense in the Maine Amateur Driver Club (MADC) race.  86-year-old Bob Nadeau made a three-wide move down the backside to win by three in 1:59.1.  As the owner, trainer and driver, it was the second such triumph for the duo in the last month, but this time he paid a whopping $34.60 to win.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Racing resumes Friday, July 12 as the First Tracks Cumberland meet continues with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend through August 3. 

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

July 6, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Walter Case Jr., who ranks 9^th 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/

July 5, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – With the Learn and Earn baby races behind them, the Pine Tree State-bred 2-year-old pacing colts will start earning their keep at First Tracks Cumberland on Friday (July 5) in two $15,986 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes.

The action starts Friday in the 3:15 pm opener where five young lads will go behind the Wes Brown starting car with the hopes of being the next Standardbred star.  The early morning line favorite is Massive Speed (7-5, Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardif) who took a 2:02.1 record three weeks ago.  Inside him is Dude’s Wanted Man (2-1, Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) who has won both of his qualifiers at Bangor.

Ridgecrest Dan (9-5, John Nason) leaves from the outermost post five, and was named after the late Dan Chamberlain, proprietor of Ridgecrest Horse Supply who parked his mobile tack shop outside of the paddock at many of Maine’s hotbeds of harness racing.

In race three another quintet of freshmen sidesteppers look to land the lion’s share of the $15,986 purse.  The favorite is Jax Attack (1-1, Case-Tardif) has several successful preliminary miles under his belt.  Just outside him is This Dudes Perfect (6-5, Campbell-Grondin) who also has some experience up at Bangor.

Friday’s card carries a total of 13 races, with all of the betting options and low take-outs that have made Cumberland a popular destination for punters.

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/

July 4, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photo)

BANGOR, ME – A lone $16,171 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies opened the card on Wednesday (July 3) at Bangor, with Ron Cushing’s Glorilla dominating her fellow troop members.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite off a 2:00.3 qualifying mile at Tioga Downs, the slick-gaited distaff wasted little time blasting out to the front and setting a 30.4 opening panel while leaving the rest of the field stretched out behind her.

On top by 5-1/2 at the 1:02.1 well-rated half, the daughter of Dude’s The Man had Chasing Dudes (Nick Graffam-Mike Graffam) giving chase with Thinkin Bout Life (Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardif) back 11 lengths in third.

On top by four, Glorilla and Ron Cushing remained well in command at the 1:32.2 third panel. With the backfield tightening up a bit and with no change in the pecking order, Leanne Marie (Mike Cushing-Charlene Cushing) made a move first over down the backstretch to improve her position.

On cruise control at the wire, Glorilla showed that she is indeed the band leader as she dominated by a comfortable 3-3/4 length margin in 2:02.3.  Owned, trained and driven by Ron Cushing, she paid $3.20 to win, and was bred by Kevin Sywyk.

Chasing Dudes finished second; Leanne Marie got up to be third.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Friday (July 5) when the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers take center stage at First Tracks Cumberland, which is immediately followed by all the 2-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 6).

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

July 1, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – Frederick H. Ward Jr.’s Gowestyounggrace was the wagering favorite in the first of two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday (June 30) at Bangor, but to say that this filly has a special place in his owner-trainer-breeder’s heart would be a glaring understatement.

“She was an amazing animal from the day she was born,” Ward exclaimed.  “From the first moment she hit the ground she loved to be around people.”

“Foals usually hide behind their mother for a few weeks, but not this girl, she wanted to be with people,” Ward continued, “My wife and I knew that she was different from day one.”

Earning the nickname ‘Angel’ for her pleasant demeanor and willingness to please her ‘humans’ the 3-year-old daughter of Western Maverick from the Ward’s mare Gracie Gracie has continued the legacy of her dam.

“Gracie Gracie was the only horse that I own that’s not for sale,” Ward said with a chuckle.  He and his wife Sharon bought her from Michigan for the princely sum of $1,100.  A tough mare to be around, the seller could not get her going, as something always happened when she was ready.

Enter the Ward’s who employ interval training with their charges and are stabled at the peaceful Oxford (Maine) fairgrounds.  Something must have clicked with that mare because she went on to earn $238,517 for them.

“She bought me a house and a couple of trucks,” beamed Ward when speaking about this family foundation mare.  But things weren’t always profitable.

In the race paddock the mare was so anxious to race that when she was hooked she would persistently kick the left wheel of the race bike.  Ward says he lost count of how many tires she flattened in the post parade.  This prompted horseman Heath Campbell to tell Ward, ‘you’re spending more on tires than for gas.’

Nonetheless, Gracie Gracie, an Albert Albert mare from the Keystone Arbor mare Rachel’s Minuet, was from a family of solid raceway performers.  She raced until she was 14, winning 53 of 240 starts.  Then she started her new career as a broodmare.  Her first foal was a Shady Character mare named Shades Of Gracelyn and she earned the Wards $56,935.  Her second foal is a Baron Biltmore mare named Sweet Baby G, who is still racing and has earned $113,428.

Gowestyounggrace is Gracie Gracie’s third foal and now has $76,821 in earnings, some of which was made while winning last year’s Maine Sire Stakes freshmen final at Cumberland.  Named after that famous Horace Greeley quote ’Go West, young man,’ Ward’s middle name is also Horace, so they put that all together when christening the filly.

“She didn’t really come around until later in her 2-year-old year.  It was kind of a slow beginning, but something miraculous happened when we took off her blinders,” Ward explained.   “She could see what Dave was asking of her.  Maybe she just needed that human contact.  But, after that day, she knew that she was a racehorse.”

Ward also noted that driver Dave Ingraham is an excellent ‘colt man’ so he really helped ‘Angel’ by teaching her and giving her the confidence that she need to excel.

Ward, himself, also credits this filly as his ‘saving grace.’  While Ward has been training harness horses for the last five decades, a training accident resulted in Ward hitting the track which resulted in a subdural hematoma, or brain bleed.  This happened at the Oxford fairgroundS during the last week in May, when some Canadian geese spooked the colt he was jogging. 

Awarded the Iron Man distinction by the Maine Breeders last season, that moniker was put to the test this past month as Ward found himself in the back of the ambulance at Cumberland, two weeks after the training accident.

Grateful, and lucky, that he was at the track and not at the farm when the symptoms manifested, Ward was rushed to Maine Medical and was in the intensive care unit just a few hours after ‘Angel’ raced and won on June 15.  Released a few days later with instructions to ‘take it easy,’ Ward starting noticing ‘little’ things and has taken a more holistic approach to life.

“I really enjoy every day now.  I almost didn’t make it,” Ward noted.

He is also looking forward to racing the 2-year-old full-brother to Gowestyounggrace, named as Gracies Tough Guy, or around the barn known as ‘Satan.’

 “I would never have pulled through this without all of the help and support of the local horse people,” Ward noted.

Also a clam digger by trade, folks don’t come much tougher than Mainers.  And, Mainers don’t come much tougher than Fred Ward Jr.

Back jogging horses and improving greatly, the win with Gowestyounggrace in Sunday’s first division was a graceful reminder of the delicacy of life and importance of good health. 

Gowestyounggrace won the first $16,421 Maine Sire Stakes division for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:57.3 on Sunday (June 30), which was a new lifetime mark.  It was also two weeks removed from the day he landed in the hospital.  “She really is my guardian angel,” declared Ward.

The second $16,197 division was captured by Who’s Perfect in 1:57.4, who also took a new lifetime mark for her owner breeder Lynne-Marie Plouffe and partners Dick and Patty McKeen.  She was driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin.

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Wednesday (July 3) at Bangor with the 2-year-old filly pacers.  Two days later (Friday, July 5) the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers take center stage at First Tracks Cumberland, immediately followed by all the 2-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 6).

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

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/