April 13, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine Amateur Driving Club was back in action on Saturday (April 12) at Cumberland Raceway, with the popular event set as the opener on a track dampened by overnight snowfall.

The sloppy, yet fast conditions didn’t stop Mike Girouard and his heavy 1-5 favorite Menlo Park from engaging in a front end battle with Hunter Lofthus and Art Scene (9-5) who gained the tactical advantage from the starting car in the $4,000 event.  After begrudgingly surrendering the lead at the start, Girouard was right back out and moving to re-take the front while setting an eye-popping :28 second opening panel.

Girouard gave his charge a brief respite going to the half in :58, but had to increase his tempo to maintain his advantage through a 1:27.4 third stanza.  Enjoying a perfect pocket trip, Lofthus tipped Art Scene to the outside off the final turn and set his sights on the leader.

By mid-stretch the pair were heads apart, and the duo battled gamely through the final strides with Menlo Park and Girouard holding on by a scant neck in 2:00.3 to capture the victory. The 8-year-old son of Betterthancheddar is also owned and trained by Girouard, and paid $2.60 for the score.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club events are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The dynamic duo of McGwire Sowers and Autym Robinson teamed up to take a pair of events, including the $5,500 feature with Hypnoticdream (2:02.1, $3.40) and Readyfortheladys (2:00.4, $4.60).  The pair have accrued five wins over the opening weekend.

Top reinsmen Drew Campbell and Kevin Switzer each grabbed a pair of victories on the day’s program.

For Campbell, the wins came with Dinner Party (2:00.3, $4.00) for trainer Chris DuBois, and Rose Run Slider (2:01.2, $9.20) for Mark Harris.

Switzer’s scores were aboard Heavensway A (2:02, $2.40) and Sherrif N ((2:02.3, $2.40), who were both harnessed by Zack Vickerson.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (April 18), and the box closes at 10 am on Tuesday (April 15) for a double draw.

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.