No Small Wonder is kind of a big thing

CUMBERLAND, ME – When the Pine Tree State-bred freshmen pacing fillies arrived at Cumberland on Saturday (July 18) 13-race card for two $15,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for distaff sidesteppers, fans may not have known that they were watching the formative starts of the state’s next Standardbred stars.  But that changed quickly when the first harness racing division hit the racetrack.

Carded as race nine, the $15,158 first division of 2-year-old pacing fillies sprang from the gate with No Small Wonder (4-5, Kevin Switzer Jr.) sprinting out for an early lead in a snappy :29 opening panel.  From that point the daughter of State Treasurer set a softer half in 1:01.2 with no outer flow threatening her dominance.

Down the backstretch Feel The Fury (4-1, Aaron Hall) tipped first over from third and got to within a length of the pacesetter into a 1:31.1 third stanza.  Bettor’s Treasure (3-2, McGwire Sowers), who had the pocket for most of the mile was now third and slingshot off the turn with the leaders.

Switzer Jr. gave his filly her head as they rolled down the lane to score by two lengths in 2:00.2, a new lifetime best and just seven ticks off the track record.

NO SMALL WONDER REPLAY

Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., it was the second consecutive victory for No Small Wonder (State Treasurer).  Bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum, she returned $3.60.

Feel The Fury finished second; Bettor’s Treasure was third.

The second $14,983 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies was captured by Wine For The Lady in 2:04.1.

Heath Campbell cut the mile with Siri, but driver Aaron Hall took advantage of the modest fractions to come from off the pace and pass several horses in the lane to win with Wine For The Lady by two lengths.  She returned $4.00.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, the daughter of State Treasurer picked up her first lifetime victory, and a new time badge.

WINE FOR THE LADY REPLAY

Siri finished second; Bad Bunny T (5-1, Switzer Jr.) was third.

Dave Ingraham steered Married Man (1:54.3, $3.80) to an easy wire-to-wire victory in the overnight featured $5,800 NW3500 pace for trainer Bob Martson and owner Bob Kluchevitz.

Aaron Hall led all drivers on the program with five trips to the winners circle.

Racing resumes next week when First Tracks Cumberland will offer a three day run from Fri., July 24 through Sun., July 26 during the penultimate weekend of the meet.  Saturday (July 25) bettors will be able watch and wager on the entire card from The Meadows, featuring the 60^th renewal of the Delvin Miller Adios Stakes.  First post on that card from Washington, PA will be 11:30 a.m.

First post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

https://firsttrackscumberland.com/racing-info/

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland