Cumberland, ME — With their seasonal hopes on the line, the Maine faithful sent this year’s group of freshmen sidesteppers out onto Cumberland Raceway on Friday (July 10) for three $14,000 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
With nothing but a qualifying race or two under their belts, the fresh-faced youngsters provided some thrills — and some anxious moments — for the Downeast crowd at the iconic Southern oval.
Despite being rough-gaited as the wings folded, Agent James Bond (9-5, Kevin Switzer Jr.) rolled on aggressively and then inherited the point when favorite Dudeisadelight (4-5, Ron Cushing) made a speed break down the backstretch as the first division headed toward the :30 opening panel.
Agent James Bond led the single file pack to a 1:00.4 half-mile marker with Dudeisadelight back on stride tracking along in the pocket and Survive The Ride (6-1, Aaron Hall) poised in third. At the paddock draw gate, Painter’s Treasure (13-1, Andy Harrington) tipped from fifth and 0 lengths in arrears to start the outer flow. They reached the third stanza in 1:30.4 with Survive The Ride providing Painter’s Treasure with second-over cover as they rounded the turn for home.
Harrington tipped Painter’s Treasure three-wide for the stretch drive and reeled in his combatants to prevail by a neck in 2:02.1 for trainer Sara Harrington. Agent James Bond finished second; Dudeisadelight was third.
Owned and bred by Bill Phipps, the son of State Treasurer is a half-brother to Glorilla p,3,1:56f ($101,421). He paid a whopping $28.60 to win in the first race of his career.
The second $14,000 division was a gate-to-wire romp by The Gucci Man and Kevin Switzer Jr.
Setting strategic early fractions of :29.1 and 1:01.1, the son of Dude’s The Man was able to gain separation after a 1:30.4 third panel and win by 6-3/4 lengths in 2:00.2, the swiftest division of the 81-degree afternoon.
Harriman (9-1, Nick Graffam), a half-brother to Cousin Margie p,3,1:54h ($126,532) finished second; favorite Rustysonlytreasure (8-5, Aaron Hall) was third.
Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif, the 2-1 second choice returned $6 while posting a :29.3 final quarter.
In the third and final $14,000 division of the Maine Sire Stakes, it was another wire-to-wire triumph for Top Notch Treasure, who completed the circuit in 2:02.2.
Driver Mike Stevenson set comfortable fractions of :30.4, 1:03 and 1:32.4 before drawing off to win by 6 lengths as the 3-5 favorite. Justcallmebuddy (8-5, Aaron Hall) a Deuce Seelster full brother to Justcallmebuck p,4,1:51f ($212,960) finished second; Two Bolts (16-1, Mike Cushing) was third.
Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Steven Moskowitz Racing, Top Notch Treasure is a State Treasurer half-brother to This Dudes Perfect p,4,1:56.3h ($87,699). He was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and returned $3.20.
Driver Nick Graffam led all drivers with four wins on the 13-race program, including a victory in the overnight featured $6,400 conditioned trot with Party At Seven (1:58.4, $12.80).
Racing continues on Saturday (July 11) in keeping with the track’s Friday-Saturday schedule for the remainder of the month. The only exception is a three-day run from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26, during the penultimate weekend of the meet.
First post is 12:15 p.m. (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through Aug. 2.
A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting the track’s website.