Scarborough, Maine - Webster’s defines
the word cornucopia as ‘having
a great abundance of something’ so it should
come as no surprise that Cohenucopia, a little
six-year-old pacing mare, would have gathered a
large number of wins on the raceway. What is so
surprising is that so many of them have come in
such a short span of time.
Since joining the ranks of the Mark Harris
Stable this season, Cohenucopia has run off an
impressive skein of three consecutive victories
– joining Western Hope as the mare with the most
number of wins at the young Scarborough Downs
meet.
“I got a bargain with her” said owner/trainer
Mark Harris. “I picked her up this past winter
for just $300.” That $300 purchase price has
netted Harris more than a 1000% return on his
investment during Cohenucopia’s recent win
streak with the petit mare earning a cool $3300
during her climb through Scarborough’s claiming
classes.
“She came to me with the warning not to jog her
– that she’d run away with you – that you had to
keep her on a light work schedule or she’d get
sour” explained Harris. “I worked on that
problem and now she jogs every day except race
days and she’s responding to the treatment. I
can even drop my feet out of the stirrups when I
jog her. She’s really progressed.”
“She seems happy too” Harris continued. “She
gets regular turnout in addition to her daily
track work and is really responding to our
stable methods. She seems to understand that
it’s her job to work hard and race hard and
she’s thriving on the challenge. She’s a good
girl.”
John Beckwith has been the driver hand-picked by
Harris to work out the winning strategy on race
day. “John drives two horses for me --
Cohenucopia and Bikini Kinda Guy.” Harris said.
“They’re both a lot alike. You have to race them
the way that they want to be raced – not
the other way around. John can get a lot out of
this kind of horse because he knows how to get
along with them. It’s a perfect match.”
Mark Harris begins his second full year in
residence on the Scarborough Downs backstretch
this season and is a daily fixture at the races
with his string of ten standardbreds – most of
whom he owns himself.
“All ten are racing right now” said Harris.
“That’s important for a trainer like me who owns
so many of his own horses. My 3-year-old Stakes
colt, Mark’s Little Buddy just qualified well,
he’s in to go Thursday, and I just picked up a
nice trotter named Spring Emmy who’s been racing
in Canada for Chicky Charlton. So far things are
going good this year.” So far, the bounty of
plenty continues for the Mark Harris Stable in
2008 – with Cohenucopia certainly an aptly named
addition.
Scarborough Downs proudly features live
harness action every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday afternoon with first post slated for
4:15 pm (EDT) with the exception of Saturday May
3rd (Kentucky Derby Day) when live
post has been moved up to 2:00 pm. The popular
Sunday matinee performance rolls in behind the
gate at 1:30 pm.
