In yesterday’s opener at Cumberland, Sarahs Lilly had a repeat performance, taking the top fillies & mares class on back-to-back Tuesdays. That, in and of itself, is not necessarily headline news. But the fact the her regular driver Bruce Ranger is now leading all drivers at all three commercial New England harness tracks, could be somewhat of a unique occurrence.
“This has never happened before, even in the old Bay State Raceway era,” said long-time Maine presiding judge Charles Malia. “I do recall Ranger being the top reinsman at Plainridge, Rockingham and Pompano in the year 2000, but never at all three New England tracks simultaneously.”
Driver Mike Stevenson left alertly with Caulfield, set the tempo, and enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory in the $6,000 Winners-Over Trot, out-stepping favourite Awol Hanover to capture the feature race in 2:02 at Cumberland on Saturday (May 15) afternoon.
Bet down to 7-5 under sunny skies and temps in the mid-70s, the ultra-consistent nine-year-old son of Kadabra has only missed the board in one start this season, winning three of six with two third-place finishes in 2021. Owned by George Tzikas and trained by Bob Marston, Caulfield has amassed over $372,000 in earnings with 24 wins on his resume. The classy campaigner has hit the board in over half of his 156 starts. Caufield paid $4.80 to win.
Smooth Score In Plainridge Top Trot | Standardbred Canada standardbredcanada.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from standardbredcanada.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A group of Southern Maine’s best trotters line up behind the First Tracks Cumberland starting gate for the $6,000 Winners Over class on Saturday (May 15) kicking off the second week of full card, live harness racing at the iconic half-mile oval. Morning line favourite Awol Hanover invades from Monticello for the recently relocated driver/trainer McGwire Sowers, who comes back home to Maine to set up shop for the season.
“He is by far the best trotter that I have in the barn. In fact, when he behaves himself he is faster than some of my pacers,” the 21-year-old up-and-coming driver said with a laugh.
Ranger Racks Up Six At Plainridge | Standardbred Canada standardbredcanada.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from standardbredcanada.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.