Cumberland, ME – Fans on hand for day two of harness racing at the 154th annual Cumberland Fair on Monday (Sept. 28) saw local reinsman Andy Harrington win half of the races on the muddy program, not letting wind, nor rain, nor outside post positions stay him from swift completion of his appointed rounds.
Harrington got things going early by winning the second half of the daily double with his own PBR Street Gang in 2:00.4. The 8-year-old son of JK Endofanera used a first-over trip to grab the lead by the head of the stretch and draw off by over five lengths. Trained by his wife Sara Harrington, he returned $6.20.
The husband-and-wife team enjoyed their second victory with Blueberry Heaven, who took the lead at the half and never looked back, scoring in 2:04 in the Non-winners of a Tank of Diesel Series. The 12-year-old by Rock N Roll Heaven paid a handsome $14.20 to his backers.
Harrington was on the march again in the $5,200 featured pace, prevailing by a neck with Clapton in 2:02. Trained by Benson Merrill, the 4-year-old son of Tall Dark Stranger bested the favorite Parklane Terror to pay $16.
The talented teamster came right back to score with Silk Road in 2:05.1 for trainer Bob Marston. The 6-year-old son of Sweet Lou returned $6.20.
Closing out the moist afternoon with a natural hat trick, Harrington won the finale with Merrill’s Mrs Foxy Roxy in 2:06. Making every call a winning one, the 5-year-old Maine-bred daughter of Deuce Seelster paid $7.20.
Driver Aaron Hall picked up his own hat trick on the program, and conditioner Michelle Lefebvre got three wins to continue her lead in the trainers’ colony.
Racing resumes at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Tuesday (Sept. 29) with full cards scheduled for the remaining racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4), with 12:30 p.m. (EDT) post times throughout the week.
Always a highlight of the “Always in September” Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with 3-year-old male pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 29) and then roll into the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2).
Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 (est.) Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday (Oct. 3), with freshman filly pacer No Small Wonder entering the seasonal finale with an unblemished, eight-win record. There will be a live draw for post positions at noon on Wednesday (Sept. 30), which can be viewed on RTN or any ADW platform that carries the First Tracks Cumberland signal.
After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins Nov. 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season, until Dec. 13. The annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 12.
For additional information, visit firsttrackscumberland.com or https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/.