Cumberland, ME — Two $9,690 divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlight the Wednesday (July 28) card at Cumberland which hosts a full card of 12 races, six of which are complete eight-horse fields, including three 20-cent Superfectas.

First Tracks Cumberland also welcomes the Varney Insurance Company as part of their corporate sponsorship ‘Day at the Track’ events.

The first MSBS $9,690 division marks the return of the freshmen to the fairgrounds from their first leg on July 20. The first race goes postward at 2:30 p.m., featuring a Marc Tardiff-trained entry, with two sons of popular Pine Tree State pacing sire Western Maverick.

Kevin Switzer Jr. hustles Deal With It Roman through the first turn to win his first lifetime start at Cumberland. Chris Tully photo.

Scoring from post position three and assigned head number one is Deal With It Roman. The 2-year-old gelding is owned, trained and was bred by Tardif. He won his first lifetime start in 2:02.3, which was his last outing, and gets the return services of Kevin Switzer Jr. in the bike. The second half of the entry, Mixedwithatwist, drew post position four, is listed as betting interest 1A, and will be driven by Andrew Harrington. This colt is owned and was bred by Leighton Property. The entry is listed as 2-1 by the trackman morning line oddsmaker.

Not to be discounted is the Charlene “Sherry” Cushing-trained gelding Salmon Bucky. The son of Western Maverick was second in his last outing and gets regular driver Steve Wilson. Scoring from post six (HN 5, 5-2), Salmon Bucky is the homebred property of David Zuckerman.

Taking his first road test is the Valerie Grondin pupil Use Yah Blinkah. Owned and bred by David Thibault, Paul Vacca, Edward Nowak Jr. and James Hardy, the gelded son of Western Maverick leaves from lane five (HN 4, 7-2) with Heath Campbell doing the steering.

The second $9,690 division is carded as race three and carries another Tardif-trained entry. Stormin Maverick drew the pylon position and was also given betting number one. The 2-year-old son of Western Maverick will be driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for owner/breeder Leighton Property. His stablemate is the Gaelic Thunder colt Storm Artist, listed as 1A. He scores from post six with driver Andy Harrington. The entry has been placed at 7-2.

The trackman has picked off the entry for this division and installed Ranaldi (post two) as the 2-1 morning line favorite. Owned, bred and driven by Ron Cushing for trainer Heidi Gibbs, the altered son of Western Maverick won his first start at Cumberland in a division fastest 2:01.4.

Second choice is the Gretchen Athearn-trained Pa’s Black Magic (post three, 3-1) who finished second in his debut, but posted a :30 final quarter. Driven by Matt “Ice” Athearn, the black son of Western Maverick looks to cast his spell on the competition.

Live harness racing from Cumberland returns Saturday (July 31), post time is 2:30 p.m., with two additional dates added Aug. 4 and 5 with 11 a.m. posts. For more information go to our website at firsttrackscumberland.com or follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.