Cumberland, ME — Fresh off her track record-equaling performance, Gowestyounggrace overpowered her foes at Cumberland on Friday (July 26) to win her third consecutive Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
In the first of two $16,000-plus divisions of the Maine-sired series, driver David Ingraham allowed the early speed to roll out on top while taking a brief respite. The first to leave was Who’s Perfect (5-2, Heath Campbell), who was immediately followed by My Sweet Revenge (7-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) into a :28.4 opening panel.
While marching into the :59.1 half, Ingraham had Gowestyounggrace first-over around the second turn and cleared as the field passed the stands for the second time. On top and in control through the 1:28.1 third panel, Gowestyounggrace had Who’s Perfect glued to her helmet with My Sweet Revenge tipping to the outside to challenge around the final turn. The 1-5 favorite found another gear as they turned for home, sprinting away to win by a comfortable two-length margin in 1:58. Who’s Perfect finished second; My Sweet Revenge was third.
The daughter of Western Maverick-Gracie Gracie has won half of her eight seasonal outings for trainer Fred Ward, Jr. who shares ownership with his wife, Sharon Ward. She paid $2.60 to win.
In the second division, another favorite triumphed in front-end fashion.
It was a three-horse cavalry charge into the first turn with Ghost of You (3-5, Switzer) taking command from Animore Sass (6-1, Andy Harrington) and Mrs Foxy Roxy (7-1, Drew Campbell). Switzer had things his own way and was able to back down from the :28.4 opening panel to a more pedestrian 1:00.1 half.
At the 1:30.2 third panel, the pace quickened as Harrington pulled the pocked with Animore Sass and poked a head in front as the battling stablemates led the field through the final turn. Ghost Of You emerged as the leader at the head of the stretch and fended off the kinetic momentum of Animore Sass to prevail by three parts of a length in 2:01. Pembroke Red (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin) recovered from an early miscue to get up for third.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, the daughter of Deuce Seelster secured her first Maine Sire Stakes victory of the season.
Ingraham picked up the middle of his driving triple in the $7,000 Chickadee Pop-Up Series Trot, scoring with Guinness in 2:02.4 while paying a whopping $84.20 to win. Aaron Hall also enjoyed a teamster trifecta. The meet’s leading driver, Kevin Switzer Jr., also had a double, as did Drew Campbell. Trainer Jamie Gerard harnessed a pair of winners.
Looking ahead to Saturday (July 27), Cumberland sees the return of Maine-sired trotters for their next round of Maine Sire Stakes action. Two early non-wagering races start the day with the sophomore trotters; post time is 2:15 p.m. Then the regular card kicks off at 3:15 p.m., featuring two $16,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes divisions for freshmen trotters as well as a $5,000 division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC). The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine. The rest of the 13-race program features additional pop-up series with increased $6,000-$7,000 purses.
The First Tracks Cumberland meet concludes next week on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 2-3). The final day of the meet features the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, as well as full-card simulcasting of Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands and Whitney Stakes Day at Saratoga. Gates open at 11 a.m., with the first pari-mutuel harness race set for 3:15 p.m.