June 28, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Maplewood Slugger and John Nason hit a home run on Friday (June 27) winning the $5,000 featured trot at Cumberland Raceway.
Scoring from post three in the opener, the duo swung at the first pitch and took the early lead into a :28.4 opening panel. From that point the veteran trainer-driver eased the tempo into softer fractions, hitting the half in :59.2. With challengers at his flank the pair reached the third station in 1:30.
As High Gear No Fear (17-1, McGwire Sowers) was breathing down his neck the 6-year-old son of Pembroke Slugger stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences in 2:00.2, winning by 2-1/4 lengths.
Trained and driven by John Nason for owner-breeder Maxine Hadlock, he paid $8.60 to win his first race of the season and 17th of his career.
High Gear No Fear finished second; favorite Matt So Sure was third.
The daily double ($24.10) was captured by Twin B High Tech in a wire-to-wire romp in 1:58.2.
Aaron Hall drove the 5-year-old daughter of Lazarus N to victory in the $4,800 conditioned pace.
From the same nursery that brought you reigning Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh, both mares are five years of age and surely roamed the same paddocks as youngsters at the McNiven family’s Twinbrook Farms in Enbro, Ontario.
She paid $9.60 to win. Gowestyounggrace (Joe Wishard) finished second.
Aaron Hall won three races on the program (two for conditioner Jamie Gerard), and top gun McGwire Sowers picked a pair of winners for his wife, trainer Autym Sowers.
Racing continues on Saturday (June 21) with 11 races, including four $12,000-plus finals of various late closing series, as well as two $12,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The total purses for the card equal $104,049.
In the glamour boys division for Pine Tree State-bred male pacers, the first $12,162 division will likely be a dash to beat the even money favorite Massive Speed (Walter Case Jr.). Although it is early in the season, the 3-year-old son of Dude’s The Man appears to be the real thing for the powerful Tardif Taskforce, who is looking for his second in a row. Dude’s Wanted Man (5-2, Heath Campbell) will probably be the horse to give the favorite a run for his money, as he is coming into form for trainer Valerie Grondin.
In the second $12,387 division of the Maine Sire Stakes Ridgecrest Dan (8/5, John Nason) is also looking to extend his winning streak from post four. Dawn To Dark (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) looks to be the ‘dark horse’ of the race and could pop a big mile at any moment, having paced in 1:58 last week right next to his stable mate Massive Speed.
In overnight action, the richest of the four late closing series finals, the $15,000 Portland Pacing Series could see a repeat performance by the winner of the $12,500 Rockland series final, Dinner Party (5/2, Drew Campbell). The 6-year-old son of American Ideal boasts five wins, four seconds and $25,540 in earnings this year. He will have to tangle with the peaking Sheriff N (3-1, Switzer Jr.) who has won his last three but scores from post seven. Gate speed may tell the tale, as Always At My Place (9-2, Bruce Ranger) has shown he possesses while winning last week’s leg in 1:56.3
The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on both Friday and Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of exotic wagers. Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race (Friday $5K guar.), 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.
Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.
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.
