June 8, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
CUMBERLAND, ME – Cain MacKenzie’s Martaritaondarocks paced the fastest mile of the Friday (June 7) program, taking her $4,400 fillies and mares conditioned pace in 1:57 flat.
Driven by Drew Campbell, the consistent 5-year-old daughter of Pet Rock was ducked into the four hole in the first turn, while 3-5 favorite Pickmepickme (Walter Case Jr.) marched on to take command.
With a soft 29.1 opening panel, Campbell pulled his charge out at the 3/8’s pole and was roughing it up first over into a 59 second half. As the rest of the pylon sitters gapped off the leader, Campbell was able to duck Martaritaondarocks into the two hole at the 5/8’s marker.
As Duck N Roll (Nick Graffam) was rolling on the outside, Martaritaondarocks was sitting tightly on the helmet of the leader through the 1:27.1 third stanza. As the outer flow diminished, Martaritaondarocks found daylight and used a slingshot move off the turn to challenge Pickmepickme at the head of the stretch.
Gaining ground with every stride, the 8-5 second choice rock and rolled to the wire to grab the swiftest mile of the day by 2-1/4 lengths. Owned and trained by Cain MacKenzie, it was the mare’s third win in her last five starts. She paid $5.20 to win.
Pickmepickme finished second; Duck N Roll was third.
The co-featured $5,500 trot was captured by Luvcrunchess in 1:58.4, picking up her first win of the season. Driven by Walter Case Jr. for trainer Ryan Hall and owner P T Stable, the 8-year-old daughter of Dontyouforgetit paid $12.00 to win gate-to-wire.
Favorite Little Macabee (Drew Campbell) finished second; Power Mitt (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
In other events, former Maine Sire Stakes champion South St Dottie picked up her second win of the season for Team Graffam, scoring in 1:58.1. A wire-to-wire effort, the 4-year-old mare paid a surprising $24.40 prize.
Team Athearn grabbed another score with track record holder Dynamical Tad who posted a 2:02 time to win the $4,400 conditioned trot. It was his second win in three weeks, having scored on May 17 and set a 2:01 Cumberland benchmark for 4-year-old stallions. He paid $10.60 to win. Owned by Barbara Dresser, he is trained by Gretchen Athearn and was driven to victory by Mark Athearn.
While the 10-race card of live harness racing begins at 3:15 pm, First Tracks Cumberland will also offer simulcasting from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday (June 8) for the $2,000,000 Belmont Stakes, doors open at 10:45 am.
The First Tracks Cumberland meet continues throughout upcoming Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3.
For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/
