December 20, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)
CUMBERLAND, ME – On the final weekend of the meet, Drew Campbell continued his reign of terror, winning three races at Cumberland on Friday (Dec. 20), including the $5,500 feature with Cash Crazy Express.
Known by his peers for his propensity to ‘send ‘em,’ Campbell did just that with the Mark Harris-trained pacing mare, making every call a winning one. Setting a fast tempo of :28, :59.2 and 1:28.1 to the third panel, the 8-year-old daughter of Art Major had Shes A Sassy Beach (McGwire Sowers) applying pressure every step of the way.
Turning for home track announcer Mike Cushing exclaimed ‘Shes A Sassy Beach has gone a mile and an eighth’ yet was unrelenting in her pursuit of the pacesetter. When the wire finally arrived, so did several other would be spoilers, as six of the seven upper echelon pacing mares were spread out across the track at the finish.
Cash Crazy Express prevailed by three parts of a length in 1:59. Owned by Kathryn Duran, she paid $15.60 to win her tenth race of the season and increased her lifetime bankroll to $192,622.
Cantstopthelovin (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Shes A Sassy Beach hung on for third.
Drew Campbell, the year’s leading reinsman at Cumberland, also scored with Skyway Ballet (2:00.3, $8.00) and Benny Is A Jet (1:59, $6.20). The 57-year-old Nova Scotia native now has 92 wins this year at Cumberland, with and impressive 50 scores in just the last eight weeks.
Driver Nick Graffam also enjoyed a hat trick on the program, winning with Time For George (1:58, $7.60); the Mike Graffam-trained Spicey P (1:59, $2.60) and Bettor Cat (1:59.3, $7.60).
Trainer Chris DuBois harnessed a pair of winners, the aforementioned Time For George and Benny Is A Jet.
Racing resumes on Saturday (Dec. 21), which is a big day in the Maine harness racing industry as twelve 14-year-old Standardbreds will parade in front of the stands, recognized by the announcer, while being feted and photographed in the winners circle with gifts and prizes. The Au Revoir Retirement Showcase includes a special $6,000 Auld Lang Syne Race, exclusively for 14-year-old pacers in the 10:55 a.m. opener, led by World Champion Lucan Hanover.
Sunday’s (Dec. 22) final card of the year features two $12,500 pop up finals, as well as five races with purses of $10,000 each. There is also the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club final in race eight.
As always, the Pick 5 starts with the third race, continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.
Following this closing weekend, harness racing at the Southern Maine’s iconic oval will reconvene in April 2025.
For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland
