December 7, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – McGwire Sowers drove a grand slam of four winners on Friday (Dec. 6) at Cumberland Raceway, which also gave the ‘Rising Star’ his 1,000th career victory.
The 24-year-old wasted little time getting hitting the four-digit threshold as he steered Wilbur Brown’s gray gelding Its Just Numbers to a wire-to-wire score in the opener, paying $5.00 to win. Tripping the timer in 2:02.3 and winning by 2-1/4 lengths, Sowers had been waiting all week for his chance to get that seemingly elusive benchmark.
Going into last Sunday (Dec. 1) Sowers was at 999 wins and had ten drives, only to finish second and third a half dozen times.
“It was nice to get the job done, finally,” noted the 2021 Monticello-Goshen USHWA Rising Star award winner. “I am thankful to all the trainers and owners that put their trust in me. Now it’s on to the next one thousand!”
And roll on he did. Following the winners circle presentation that honored his accomplishment where he was surrounded by his fellow drivers, girlfriend and trainer Autym Robinson, and other well-wishers, the New Brunswick-born reinsman racked up another three victories on the mid-day card.
Sowers scored with American Maverick (1:59.4, $14.40), and a pair for Robinson: Moonlightandroses (2:00.4, $3.40) and Shes A Sassy Beach (1:59.1, $3.60).
Raised in the Pine Tree State, McGwire Sowers drove his first race a dozen years ago when he was 12 at Cornish Trotting Park, and cut his teeth on the competitive Maine Fair Circuit while in his teens.
When he was not driving at the fairs, he was home in Woodstock (Maine) attending high school, as well as playing youth hockey. When Sowers turned 18, he earned his high school diploma early and joined his father, Bo, to begin his driving career at Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland.
Rosecroft is where Sowers scored his first career pari-mutuel driving victory on March 11, 2018, with family-owned Terem Up Louie, who went off at 12-1 odds. It was a deep stretch battle and a crowded finish with Sowers out in front in 1:54.4.
Interestingly, McGwire’s mother Tammy Sowers won the second race with her own Pink Delight in Cumberland’s second race. Driven by Dan Rawlings to a wire-to-wire score from post eight, the 5-year-old daughter of Huntsville blasted home in 1:59.4 to win by 3-3/4 lengths. She paid $14.40 to win in her first start outside of Monticello since the Fryeburg Fair.
Nick Graffam enjoyed a pair of victories on the program, including a victory with their Norton Farm stable star South St Dottie in the $5,500 feature. Trained by Mike Graffam for owner-breeder Jan Donaway, the 4-year-old daughter of Western Maverick won in 1:58.4 by 2 lengths, paying $14.40. The former Maine Sire Stakes Champion now has $ 187,316 in lifetime earnings.
Drew Campbell now has 5,997 wins and has eight drives on the Saturday card, which features a $5,000 guaranteed Pick-5 beginning with race three.
The feature is $6,000 Winners Over Pace, led by Varney (2-1, Nick Graffam) who has earned $64,660 this year and been 17 times 1-2-3 in 31 outings. The second choice is Sixfingerfreddie (5-2, Drew Campbell) who won in 1:53.4 at Plainridge a few starts back.
Sunday’s (Dec. 8) card boasts ten divisions of the various pop-up series and the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club race.
On each of the three racing days, the Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the tenth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.
The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am. Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Saturday, Dec. 21, with a total of 12 entries to be paraded in front of their Maine fan base.
For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland
