Cumberland, ME – Sophomore trotting filly Hayden put her name in the record books on the country’s 250th birthday, equaling the track record in her division on Saturday (July 4) at Cumberland Raceway.
In the $14,000 Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old distaff trotters the daughter of Cantab Fashion wasted little time taking command with trainer-driver Gary Hall sending the 2-5 favorite out for an early lead. With 9-5 second choice Pembroke Lady (Heath Campbell) tipping out and challenging the leader going to the :30 second first panel, the bold move lasted a only few strides before ducking back in the two hole.
Hall let out a notch on Hayden after heading into the softer 1:01.2 midway point, prompting Mike Cushing to pull Our Last Quote and begin the outer flow. That challenge was relatively short-lived as that 6-1 third choice ducked back into the gap left open by a stalling Pembroke Lady as the field passed the third station in 1:31.1.
Around the turn and down the stretch Hayden and Hall continued to put distance between themselves and their pursuers, drawing off by 4-1/2 lengths to score in a track record equaling 2:01.1.
Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, it was the second seasonal victory for Hayden, along with a new time badge. She returned $2.80 for the fourth win of her career.
Our Last Quote finished second; Race Me Boomer was third.
In the other $14,783 Maine Sire Stakes division for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings, last week’s victor Wilder N Idy continued to show his racing prowess. Cutting early fractions of :30 and 1:01.4 the son of To The Hilt showed no signs of slowing down.
As is par for the course, Athearn gave his colt a second-quarter breather and then tapped the accelerator and brushed through a 1:31 third panel. Down the stretch, the duo continued to gain separation and sprinted home a 4-3/4 length winner in 2:00.2, a new lifetime mark.
Wilder and Ivy is trained by Gretchen Athearn and owned by Patricia Leavitt. Bred by the late Mike Andrew, he now has $122,322 in lifetime earnings.
The early, non-wagering race was the second seasonal outing, and victory, for Wilder N Idy. Gus’s Workout (Heath Campbell) finished second; Trottinfortreasure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
Racing resumes on Friday (July 10) and will continue with a Friday – Saturday schedule for the remainder of the month. The only exception being a three day run from Fri., July 24 through Sun., July 26 during the penultimate weekend of the meet.
First post is 12:15 p.m., during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.
A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website: First Tracks Cumberland