September 28, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Three $19,00-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotters and pacers went postward on Friday (September 27) at the Cumberland (Maine) Fair, with the usual suspects cementing their place in the divisional hierarchy.
In the early $20,432 non-wagering race for sophomore male pacers, which was rescheduled due to Thursday’s cancelation, it was the indomitable Two Fold Cold who made his signature gate-to-wire supremacy known to all who bore witness.
Leaving from post four the son of Deuce Seelster continued his reign of terror on his classmates and rolled through 28.1 and 58.3 early fractions, before turning on the afterburners into a 1:27.2 third panel. Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. had to keep the gelding on his toes as Gary Hall’s Justcallmebuck and Heath Campbell were breathing down his neck as they stormed down to the wire. The precocious pacesetter held on to prevail by a quarter length in 1:57.3.
Ironically, Two Fold Cold was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, but is now the property of conditioner Marc Tardif. It was his tenth straight seasonal victory and remains undefeated this year.
Stable mate Art’s Flight (Andy Harrington) finished third.
Valerie Grondin grabbed a back-to-back victory aboard Chipper Dale, sitting a two-hole trip behind stable mate Pembroke Will (Heath Campbell) in the $19,483 Maine Sire Stakes 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. The son of Shake It Off Lindy tripped the timer in 2:04.4, winning by 2-3/4 lengths.
Owned and bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, it was the gelding’s eighth seasonal victory and third in a row. He paid $2.20 to win as the heavy favorite.
Pembroke Will finished second; Carrabassett (Mark Athearn) was third.
Next up were the sophomore trotting distaffs vying for $19,708, with divisional leader Pembroke Breeze resuming her previous form for the triumph.
Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, the filly made quick work of the field as she made every call a winning one, scoring in 2:05 by 1-3/4 lengths. The daughter of Pembroke Slugger was riding a five-race win streak when she finished third in her last start in mid-August. After some time off she has returned to her winning ways for owner breeder Bill Varnery, grabbing her sixth race of the season, paying $2.20.
Bernie’s Legacy (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Twisted Venture (Mike Cushing) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes concludes at the Cumberland Fair the 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28). Post time is 1:00 pm.
The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.
After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November. The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22. Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.
For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/
