May 31, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – When Cumberland conditioner Chris Lefebvre bought Airspinder a few months ago, he was not sure what kind of horse he was going to end up with.

“He had showed some speed, but we knew that he had bad feet.  So it was a little bit of a gamble,” exclaimed the 42-year-old third generation horseman.  Airspinder, a 5-year-old son of Delaware sire No Spin Zone (by The Panderosa), has won four of his five last starts for owners Michelle Lefebvre and Brian Aaskov, and earned over $10,000 in that 5-week span. 

“My Blacksmith sees him once a week and my grooms go through buckets of poultice and hoof dressing!”

But quarter cracks aside, the horse seems to have developed an admirable trait…he likes to pass other horses.  “He’s not sure what to do when he gets by them, but he’s learning,” noted Lefebvre.  “If there is a rabbit out there he likes to chase them down.”

Stabled at the Cumberland Fairgrounds, Lefebvre (pronounced le-FAVE) has seven horses in his barn and recognizes the unique qualities of his current stable star.

“He is a nice horse and it’s been a lot of fun for me and my wife to watch him race,” noted Lefebvre.  “He sort of handicaps himself early because of his lack of early speed.”  Clearly, Airspinder makes up for that issue with his powerful closing ability.  This became evident to the Lefebvre’s when he won his second start for them at Bangor on April 28.

“He had the two hole, got away 6^th and was back over eighteen lengths by the quarter pole.  But once he was given racing room he charged home, parked the mile and won in 1:56, with last quarter in :28.1,” Lefebvre recalls.

While horse ownership is fun for Michelle Lefebvre, at her day job she works as a nurse recruiter for Maine Medical in Portland and helps place RNs throughout the state’s hospitals.  

“It’s always exciting when they win, but Airspinder has been out of the ordinary,” detailed Michelle Lefebvre.  “We don’t always have horses that keep winning…so this has been an extra thrill.”

He was assigned post five in Tuesday’s $6,000 Winners Over $10,000 handicap, programmed as the seventh race, which is the start of the pick four.  The only horse outside of him is Sarah’s Lilly (3-1), a mare with $12,000L5 and two wins in her last two ‘winners over fillies and mares’ starts at Cumberland.

Airspinder will also get pressure from Bet On Joe (PP 4, M/L 9-2), a 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight that has been racing in the Patriot Series at Plainridge.  Trained by Bob Marston and driven by Mike Stevenson, the 11-time lifetime winner shows race times in 1:52.3 & 1:52.4 in his last three starts.

Leading Cumberland trainer Karl Butterfield sends Twomacsoneshadow (Kevin Switzer Jr, PP 3, M/L 4-1) into the mix, having battled with Airspinder in his last two starts and looks to even the score in his favor.

The 5-2 favorite on the morning line, Airspinder gets the services of W. Drew Campbell, a top-five driver at both Cumberland and Bangor, and is currently sixth at Plainridge.  The Nova Scotia-native has 5,357 lifetime wins with over $16 million in earnings.  This year Drew Campbell has a UDR of .291 with 31 seasonal victories.

Tuesday’s card has ten races programmed with $1 exactas and 50 cent trifectas available in every race.

May 29, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – In harness racing, it is not uncommon to have a front-end speed duel in an amateur race.  It is also not surprising to watch drivers sitting off the pace suddenly benefit from the high-spirited action.  But in the Maine Amateur Driving Club race on Saturday at Cumberland, not one but two drivers sought to snatch their share of the glory from the tiring pacesetters.

Ultimately it was Charles Eaton III and his own Hoboken Hanover that swooped the field and came away with the victory in 2:00.4.

At the start driver Todd Whitney left alertly from post five with Three Day Forecast, got stung a little going to the quarter in :29.1 by Led Schneppelin (Mike McGee), but eventually cleared.  Approaching the 3/8’s pole, Ben Merrill pulled the three-hole with River Runs Deep, only to be thwarted by Three Day Forecast (Whitney) past the half and through the third turn.

Going up the backside to the three-quarter’s Alex Richardson pulled Baywood Shadow three-wide to overtake the front-end battlers.  While Richardson (Baywood Shadow) was gaining some separation on the field around the final turn, owner/trainer/driver Charles “Butch” Eaton moved Hoboken Hanover three wide and started his cavalry charge down the center of the racetrack.

Despite being positioned fifth and back three lengths at the three-quarters, the 14-year-old son of Cam’s Card Shark got up to win by a head over Baywood Shadow in a photo finish.  Hoboken Hanover paid $13.80 to win, the 70^th victory of his long career.

In the winner’s circle, Butch Eaton was greeted by Aimee Nichols, territory sales manager for Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, who presented a ‘swag bucket’ trophy of stable supplies on behalf of the Windham and North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feed stores.

The Maine Amateur Drivers Club race was the first of what is shaping up to be a weekly series of events for the casual reinsmen.

The featured trot of the day was the $6,000 Winners Over, captured by Bruizn and driver Andrew Harrington in 2:01.3.  Trained by Kim Ireland for owners Dennis and Deborah Foss, the 9-year-old son of Musclini took advantage of a perfect two-hole trip and gave driver Harrington his first of two wins on the card.  Bruizn paid $18.40 to win.

Maine-native driver Gary Mosher also enjoyed two wins on the program, both with horses trained by David Crochere.

May 28, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – When First Tracks Cumberland Race Secretary Marc Reynolds opened Saturday’s ‘virtual’ entry box on Wednesday morning he could not believe his eyes.

Reynolds exclaimed, “We always thought that the Maine horsemen and women would support the Cumberland meet.  But this Saturday was a very pleasant surprise with 115 horses in the box!”

When the cyber-dust settled, eleven races were carded, continuing with the new post time of 2:30 pm, and with the addition of the Maine Amateur Driving Club.

Club president, Joe Burke stated, “People are excited and ready to start driving again.  Historically, this has been a very competitive series.  We had fifteen drivers join the club this year, which includes four from the New England club that races at Plainridge.”

“Once people see it in action, the interest will continue to grow.  The management of Cumberland is on board, and we have a new trophy sponsor with Blue Seal Feeds…so it’s all coming together,” Burke added.

Carded as race eight for a purse of $4,000, several of the Maine amateur reinsmen own and/or train their mounts, which should lead to an exciting contest.  Second choice Hoboken Hanover has been knocking on the door and hopes to make this start a winning one.  Owned, trained and now driven by 65-year-old Charles Eaton III in a pari-mutuel race, he won the first-ever qualifier at the new First Tracks Cumberland meet on Saturday, May 1.

Hoboken Hanover is a 14-year-old son of Cam’s Card Shark and sports 69 lifetime wins and $423,000 in earnings.

Aimee Nichols, territory sales manager for Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, will present the trophy on behalf of the Kent Nutrition Group, makers of Blue Seal Feeds.

Nichols noted, “Perhaps I am somewhat biased, but I will be cheering for Led Schneppelin, the horse with the cool name and 34 lifetime wins.”  Co-owned and driven by Mike McGee, he is trained by Blue Seal Feeds brand ambassador Aaron Hall.

“My colleagues at Blue Seal are excited to be a part of the new era of Harness Racing in Southern Maine here in Cumberland.” Nichols added.  “I love the sport and enjoy watching the horses charge down the stretch…many of which happen to be strengthened by Blue Seal Feeds!”

Also on the card is the $6,000 Winners Over Trot, headed by Caulfield who is looking for his fourth win in a row.  The 9-year-old son of Kadabra leaves from the assigned post seven.  The top pace of the day is race ten, a $4,200 NW3000 that appears to be a wide open and speedy affair, pitting several classy campaigners against some upstart, younger foes.

May 27, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland, in collaboration with Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor has announced a new pacing series to be held at both racetracks throughout the month of July.

“The upcoming Maine Legends Pacing Series is very exciting for harness racing in the state of Maine,” stated Cumberland Race Secretary Marc Reynolds.  “This is the first ‘late closer-style’ event offered in 2021, and we anticipate creating additional series as demand grows.”

While this is a great opportunity for Maine horsemen with a $12,500 guaranteed final purse, the benefits don’t stop there.

Reynolds added, “It has been a pleasure working alongside Paul Verette to get this series off the ground.  His knowledge of the industry in general, coupled with his close connection to New England Standardbreds specifically, has made the prospect of developing and aligning a complimentary racing schedule with Bangor such a success.  And the winners are the Owners, Trainers and Drivers that compete in the region.”

Named for a two of the most revered Maine Harness Horsemen of the current era, Freeman Parker and Donnie Richards, the series is unique in that there is no entry fee.  In addition, it provides racing opportunities for both horses/geldings and for mares, 4-years-old and older that may be ‘stuck’ between classes.  The legs and the finals alternate between Bangor and Cumberland, beginning the week of July 6.

The series is open to pacers that have started for a base claiming price of $6,000 or less since November 1, 2020, and have not won for a base claiming price exceeding $8,000, or have not won a race for a purse of $10,000 or more from November 1, 2020 through date of first leg entry.

Living legends in their own right, Freeman Parker and Donnie Richards each amassed over 4,000 driving wins in their respective careers, spanning numerous decades.  Both are well-known and much-admired for their horsemanship and on-track success throughout New England, as well as their humility and kindness off the track. 

Although they hung up their driving colors a few years back, Richards still trains a few horses and just won a race at Cumberland last week.

Parker Freeman’s passion for harness racing is still as strong as ever.  On an almost daily basis he stops by to visit Eddie Fournier, his longtime friend and horse trainer who keeps his horses in Auburn, ME.

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31, with a NEW post time of 2:30 pm.  For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 25, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – On a warm and sunny Tuesday (May 25) afternoon at Cumberland, Photo King did the same thing he has done on 56 previous occasions-won a pari-mutuel trot race.  Not to be outdone, his navigator Dan Deslandes won four of the five races that he drove in.

Photo King, an elder statesman with nearly $500,000 in lifetime earnings, is a 14-year-old son of S J’s Photo from the Valley Victory mare Musical Victory.  Today marked his 57^th lifetime victory, the fastest of which he took at age five in 1:53.2 at Pocono.  Today’s romp was a wire-to-wire walk in the park from post five, tripping the timer in 2:01.1.

Also trained and co-owned by Dan Deslandes (with Danny King), the classy campaigner paid $6.20 to win.

Driver Deslandes started his day by wiring the field from post seven with Love Love Me Do in 1:58.1.  The 28-year-old native New Englander began his reign of conquest in race two, providing the 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare with her third win in a row for trainer Karl Butterfield. 

The next time ‘Double D’ was behind the gate was a win with his aforementioned trotter in race five.  The following event he went right down the road again, giving Mighty American N his second win in a row in the $4,500 purse 8000 claiming pace in 1:55.2.  Trained by Karl Butterfield for owner Jose Cervantes, the 9-year-old son of American Ideal paid $3.60 to win.

The eighth race saw the team of Deslandes-Butterfield dominate the action once again.  Ima Tragedy N went coast-to-coast in 1:57, drawing off to win by four and a half lengths.  The 11-year-old son of Sands A Flyin now has two victories at the Southern Maine oval.  Ima Tragedy N paid $2.80 to win.

Although dominant in today’s action, Deslandes’ exploits were enough to move him into second place in the driver standings, but he still remains a few wins below New England’s leading driver Bruce Ranger.  Karl Butterfield won three races and now usurps Ben Merrill as the meet’s current leading conditioner.  Kevin Switzer Jr had two victories on the program.

For Saturday, May 29, a new addition to the condition sheet marks the beginning of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) series, with a purse of $4,000.  The conditions allow for pacers that are non-winners of $2,000 in their last five starts.  Extra purse money has been added to that class, and Standardbreds that are Maine-bred get an allowance of $2,500.  Aimee Nichols of Blue Seal Feeds of Windham and North Yarmouth will present the trophies.

Qualifiers will now be held following the Saturday pari-mutuel card, at approximately 5:45 pm.

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31, with a NEW post time of 2:30 pm.  For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 22, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Three times is a charm for trotter Caulfield, as the classy campaigner trotted the fastest mile of the season Saturday (May 22) at Cumberland, winning the $6,000 Winners Over class in 1:59.2.

Driven by Mike Stevenson for trainer Bob Marston, the nine-year-old son of Kadabra was in command the entire mile, throwing in a :29.3 last quarter to seal the deal and win his third start in a row in Maine.  Owned by George Tzikas, Caulfield now has 25 wins and $375,311 lifetime.  In fact, the ‘honest trotter’ has won every start this season that has been held in the Pine Tree State, enjoying four victories in his last five starts overall.’

Caulfield paid $3.60 to win, and took a new seasonal mark on the half-mile track at Cumberland.

Opening the card, Maine harness racing legend Donnie Richards got his first win of the meet with his own trotter Wind Current.  The five-year-old Maine-bred son of Current Cast, from the Muscles Yankee mare Flourescent, won the $4,500 NW3500 trot in 2:01.2, a new seasonal mark. 

The 88-year-old trainer is approaching 1,000 wins lifetime, with $3.8 million in earnings and Richards now enjoys a .472 UTR at the Southern Maine oval.

Wind Current was driven by Mark Athearn, bred by Tom Dillion, and paid $15.00 to win.

On the pacing side, the fastest mile of the day was clocked by Bet You, taking the $4,500 NW3500 pace in 1:55.2.  Bet down to ten cents on the dollar, the fast son of Bettor’s Delight showed the punters several miles paced in 1:52 or faster at Plainridge to warrant such attention. 

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Joe Nelson and owner Scott Dillon, the nine-year-old winner of over $575,000 appeared to find the Cumberland surface to his liking.  Bet You was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and paid $2.20 to win.

Both Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr., had driving doubles on the Saturday card.  Ben Merrill added a win to his total, keeping him one step ahead of Karl Butterfield in the trainers standings with six and five respectively.  In fact, 28 different trainers have won at least one race at First Tracks Cumberland after six race dates.

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31, with a NEW post time is 2:30 pm.  For more information go to our website firsttrackscumberland.com and follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 22, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

NOTE: NEW POST TIME: 2:30 pm starting TUE 25 MAY

CUMBERLAND, ME – When First Tracks Cumberland opened its virtual entry box in early May, New Brunswick-native Mike Stevenson called Race Secretary Marc Reynolds and said, “This is the first time, and the last time, that I am calling you.”

Stevenson continued, “I am stabled right here on the grounds in Cumberland.  I have five RACE HORSES.  And they will RACE.  Considered them entered and use them whenever you need them.”

Stevenson wasn’t trying to be a wise guy or disrespectful.  In his own way, he was simply giving the race office free reign to enter his horses at will.  This is helpful for a race secretary that must rely on the computer and the telephone, rather than a large barn area, to fill a race card.

Reynolds was grateful for the vote of confidence, “Mike’s a nice guy and we certainly appreciate having his horses in the box every week.’’

57-year-old Stevenson makes Maine his home and is a regular driver around the New England circuit.  Perhaps settled down now, there are very few tracks that Stevenson has not made an appearance.  Having trekked all over the East Coast, and on both sides of the border, the second generation horseman has raced at all of the Standardbred hotspots.

With plenty of memories of time spent in New Jersey during the 90s, coupled with several stints back in his native New Brunswick, Stevenson finds the Maine environment much to his liking.

“I am excited about the racing at Cumberland.  I think this group has done a great job resurrecting the Maine racing schedule,” Stevenson stated.  “Our industry needs places like this.  Maine needs a place like this.  This area reminds me of Prince Edward Island.  The people around here love harness racing.  There is a race bike on every lawn and a horse in every barn.”

Stevenson spent some of his teenage years hanging around the Meadowlands in the 1980s, working with his dad, Bob Stevenson, at one time one of the leading trainers at the Big M.  He also worked with Peter Blood at Foxboro and Pompano, and eventually built up his own successful stable up in Fredericton, NB.

Entering his fifth decade of driving harness horses, Stevenson is approaching 2,000 dash wins and has earned $7.3 million on the racetrack.  Saturday he gets the call on Caulfield, leaving from post four in the $6,000 Winners Over Trot at Cumberland.

“He is just a real nice, honest old horse.  Once you get through first turn he really is a push button trotter,” Stevenson recalled.

“Honesty goes a long way around here, and so does two minutes.  He’s good on a small track, and handy too.”

A nine-year-old son of Kadabra, from the Tom Ridge mare Misty Ridge, Stevenson points out that he is well bred and that helps a horse succeed in Maine.  Looking for his third win in a row and fourth victory in five starts, Caulfield is the richest trotter in the field with $372,311 earned lifetime.  Trained by Bob Marston, Caulfield has 24 career wins with nine victories in the last 18 months, and is owned by George Tzikas.

“But most of all,” Stevenson exclaims, “Winning keeps him happy.  He’s out here jogging with his tail up, grabbing on and feeling good.”

“They know when they win…they know!”

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31. 

For more information go to our website firsttrackscumberland.com and follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 19, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – In yesterday’s opener at Cumberland, Sarah’s 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,” noted 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.”

The Maine icon’s day started with guiding the 5-year-old daughter of He’s Gorgeous to a wire-to-wire 1:56 victory in the $6,000 Winners Over FM class.  Sarah’s Lilly is trained by Benson Merrill for owner/breeder Moo Coo Inc./Irwin Kaplan, and now has 4 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third in 12 seasonal outings, and has picked up nearly $10,000 in just the last four weeks.

But then Ranger racked up wins in the 3^rd, 6^th and 9^th races on the Tuesday card, placing him comfortably on top of the Cumberland drivers colony with 13 victories and a whopping .415 UDR over the first five race cards of the fledgling meet.  Heath Campbell is second with seven trips to the winners circle, with Dan Deslandes in the third spot with six wins.

Born in Portland, Maine, Ranger is now on the top of the leader board at Bangor with 14 wins, Cumberland with 13, and Plainridge with 36 victories.  This season he has a total of 65 wins and a .365 UDR.

An energetic 61-years-young, Ranger won his first race in 1979, and the talented reinsman had racked up 357 wins by the end of the three years that followed. 

He quickly became no stranger to the winner’s circle as Ranger now has 9,430 trips to victory lane, and has earned over $39 million in purses.  He sits 23^rd on the all-time ‘drivers by wins’ list and in 2019 he was just the 24^th driver ever to reach the 9,000 win plateau.   Ranger is also the all-time leading dash winner at Pompano Park, and is a member of both the New England and Florida Halls of Fame. 

According to USTA statistics, Ranger has been behind the starting gate over 46,000 times, and has enjoyed several multi-million dollar seasons.  Perhaps his best season was 2004 when he had 569 wins and earned $2.4 million, but he has had over a dozen years with more than 300 victories.

Always modest, Ranger is quick to give the credit of his success to the horses he drives and the trainers that utilize him.  He took a short break a few years ago and worked as a starter around the Maine fair tracks.  But, the roar of the crowd and the sound of the hoof beats were too loud to ignore and he picked right up where he left off.

In the Tuesday co-feature at Cumberland, driver Drew Campbell was not afraid to give Airspinder plenty of air to find victory in the $6,000 Winners Over Pace at Cumberland on Tuesday, May 18. 

Parked the entire second circuit, the 5-year-old son of No Spin Zone was comfortable while first over into a 1:25.3 third-quarter.  Campbell had Airspinder on top by three lengths at the head of the stretch, and held off a late charge by Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham) to win by a quarter-length in 1:55.3h.  Pacesetter Twomacsoneshadow (Kevin Switzer, Jr) finished third.

Airspinder paced the second fastest mile of the meet and took a new seasonal mark in the process, while inching closer to amassing $100,000 lifetime earnings.  Bred, owned and trained in the Pine Tree State, Airspinder is conditioned by Chris Lefebvre for owners Michelle Lefebvre and Brian Aaskov, he paid $7.00 to win.

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31.  First post 4:15 pm. 

For more information go to our website firsttrackscumberland.com and follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 18, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland Race Secretary Marc Reynolds is sending out an open invitation to all New England-area Amateur Drivers for a new series of harness races being carded weekly for our sport’s non-professional reinsmen and women.

“We have had extensive conversations with Joe Burke and Todd Whitney about developing a series of races to be known as the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC).  The thought of a weekly event highlighting the ever-growing amateur driving movement has been well received and we look forward to robust participation from all over New England.”

While the purse events are in the formative stages, the conditions appear to be leaning toward a straight pace NW2000L5, with no optional claiming tags.  Of course, these may be adjusted as the horse population and entries allow, but the first leg will be on the condition sheet beginning Saturday, May 29.

“Amateur racing is as popular as it’s ever been,” stated Hall of Fame harness racing publicist John Manzi, who covers the Amateur action for groups around the country.

“More and more men and women are getting in the sulky to compete, and many own their own horses too!  It’s great for the sport, and the bettor’s really like these races because they are competitive and always exciting to watch.”

For more information, or to join the club, please Email fellow amateur driver Joe Burke: jburke@ccb-inc.com.

To download a MADC application, click HERE:

In addition to the possibility of increased purses for these races, the club will also raise money for local charities and other worthwhile causes.

Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31.  First post 4:15 pm. 

For more information go to our website firsttrackscumberland.com and follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

May 15, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – 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 favorite Awol Hanover (McGwire Sowers) to capture the feature race in 2:02h at Cumberland on Saturday (May 15) afternoon.

Bet down to 7-5 under sunny skies and temps in the mid-70s, the ultra-consistent 9-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 lifetime.  The classy campaigner has been 1-2-3 in over half of his 156 career starts.  Caufield paid $4.80 to win.

Bruce Ranger enjoyed a driving double on today’s card, which including giving Ira Chief an encore appearance in the winner’s circle.  The 12-year-old son of Chief Silverheels has enjoyed back-to-back victories at the fledgling Cumberland meet, taking the first of today’s three $4,500 divisions of NW3500L5 pacing class in 1:57.3h.

Ira Chief is owned by Dianne Whittemore and is trained by Dennis Whittemore.  He paid $4.40 to win.

Ranger’s second win came with another horse that won on opening day, Shady Secret A.  Despite a jump up in class and drawing post seven, the 8-year-old daughter of Shadyshark Hanover moved first over from the quarter and was parked the rest of the way to win in 1:57.3h, a new seasonal mark. 

Shady Secret A is owned by Grant Owens, trained by Ben Merrill and paid $17.00 to win.

All in all, five horses on today’s card captured back-to-back victories at the new Cumberland race meet.  The youngest was the Sara Gibbs-owned and trained Dreamfair Fantasy.  She, a 3-year-old Bettor’s Delight filly, was driven to victory by Heath Campbell in 2:02.4/29.4.  Dreamfair Fantasy paid $4.40 to win.

Driver Dan Deslandes also had two wins on today’s card, the swiftest of the day was Mighty American N, who won the second $4,500 div. NW3500L5 in 1:56.1h.  The 9-year-old son of American Ideal is owned by Jose Cervantes and was trained by Karl Butterfield.  Mighty American N paid $7.00 to win.