May 10, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – McStoned Again rocked and rolled to victory during the ‘Trottin’ Friday’ $5,500 feature on May 9 at Cumberland Raceway.
Scoring from pylon position driver McGwire Sowers let the swift Rose Run Yakim (2-1, Drew Campbell) and the inside positioned Mister Muscle (8-1, Nick Graffam) engage in a brief tussle for the front end into a :28.4 opening panel.
With Rose Run Yakim ultimately securing the point, the 4-5 favorite McStoned Again sat comfortably in the three hole until the soft 1:00.4 half mile marker. Providing cover for the second over Little Macabee (13-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.), Sowers kept his horse engaged with the leader who had already popped the earplugs at the 1:30.2 third stanza and could not withstand the challenge.
Around the final turn and down the stretch it was all over but the shouting as the favorite cruised down to the wire in 2:01 by 3-3/4 lengths. Trained by Christopher Hitchcock for owner Michael Pease, the 7-year-old son of Wishing Stone picked up his first win of the season and 29th of his career. Increasing his lifetime earnings to $274,869, he paid $3.60 to win.
Rose Run Yakim hung on for second; Inquiring Mind (13-1, Steve Wilson) came from last at the three-quarters to pick up the show dough.
J S Peyton took the second race $4,800 conditioned trot in 2:00.1 for driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Benson Merrill. He paid $5.00 to win for owners Bill Tracy and John and Thelma Kiernan. It was the 10-year-old son of Swan For All’s third victory of the season.
Broadway Giant picked up his first seasonal victory, taking the fifth race $4,200 cond. trot in 2:00.4, also in rein to Bruce Ranger. The 11-year-old son of Broadway Hall is owned and trained by Ron Patione, and paid $3.20.
Driver Nick Graffam picked up three wins on the afternoon program, two of which were harnessed by Jamie Gerard, who also won the opener resulting in a three-bagger.
Racing continues on Saturday (May 10) at 3:15 pm and includes several exotic wagers. Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race, and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts. There was an $889.76 carryover in the Pentafecta.
Saturday’s (May 10) card carries eight races and hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club event in race two. The $4,000 purse attracted a full field of eight entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. Todd Whitney drives the favorite Hoosier Shark from post four.
The faster pacers meet in the $5,500 fifth race conditioned pace. Zack Vickerson trains and drives the 3-1 favorite Heavensway A. The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight races without the claiming tag and looks to recover from his uncharacteristic miscue in his last outing. Former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (7-2, Dave Ingraham) is steadily improving and will look to mix things up a bit.
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.
