July 9, 2022, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photo)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Soho Leviathan A had not won a race yet this season. That all changed on Friday (July 8) at Cumberland when driver Mike Stevenson steered him to a neck triumph in 1:55.4, upsetting the favorites in the $6,500 Open 2-3 Pace.
Scoring from pylon position, Stevenson took the lead through the first turn, but was happy to let the 3-5 favorite Nagle (Dan Deslandes) blast to the front end heading down the backstretch. While the new leader Nagle controlled the tempo in 28.2 and 58, Stevenson and Soho Leviathan A sat comfortably in two-hole as the outer flow started to materialize.
Linda’s In Heaven (Drew Campbell) moved first over at the half, followed by second choice Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham) who were both chasing a formidable third panel in 1:26.1.
With Linda’s In Heaven fading Stevenson tipped the 9-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven out, off of the pylons, while Matt Athearn simultaneously found racing room up the inside with Ry’s Red Rocket to surround a tiring Nagle. The new leaders fought valiantly in the final strides down to the wire, with Stevenson and Soho Leviathan A prevailing by a tight neck.
Trained by Bob Marston for owner Lawrence Angello Jr., Soho Leviathan A paid $20.00 to win. Ry’s Red Rocket finished a close second; Nagle hung on to be third.
Mike Stevenson enjoyed a driving triple and a training double on the day’s program. Aaron Hall also won three races.
The Cumberland track crew has been keeping the racing surface in tip-top shape. The weather and the harness action was fast and saw three races pace in 1:56 or faster and 9 of 10 hit or eclipse 1:58.
Racing resumes Saturday (July 9) at 4 p.m., with the extended pari-mutuel meeting active each weekend through July 23. The 28th racing date of the Spring-Summer season features two divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2-year-old trotter, one off the card, as well as some lively Maine Amateur Driving Club action, sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.
The final race on both Friday and Saturday features our 20 cent Hi-Five (Pentafecta), with a low takeout of 16%.
More information can be found on our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com and on our Facebook page: First Tracks Cumberland.
