August 3, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine faithful must have been impressed with the results of the 100^th Hambletonian won by a Swedish-born horse in a stakes record 1:50 at the Meadowlands, because shortly after Ake Svanstedt’s Nordic Catcher S won the prestigious $1 million dollar race on Saturday (Aug. 2), the horsemen at Cumberland Raceway put on a speed show of their own.

The featured race of the day, the annual $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, witnessed history in the making as former Maine Sire Stakes star Two Fold Cold (5-2, Dave Ingraham) allowed the front end fisticuffs to unfold in front of him.  So Rock N Roll (Bruce Ranger) protected his pylon position at the start which forced 1/5 favorite Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing) to push onward to take command into a swift :27.1 opening panel.

Past the :57 half Drew Campbell tipped Instant Replay from fifth, thus flushing the cover of Ingraham who was forced to pull Two Fold Cold around the five-eighths pole.  Gaining ground with every stride Two Fold Cold poked a head in front of the pacesetter through the snappy 1:24.2 third quarter station and took the top through the final turn.

As Ingraham checked over his shoulder and crossed over the long shadow of the grandstand, the pacer stopped the timer in 1:53.1, which was the fastest mile ever paced in the history of Cumberland Raceway.  Not only was it an all-age track record for pacers, but also the fastest for a 4-year-old pacing gelding.

Owned by Marc Tardif and trained by Kelly Case, the son of Deuce Seelster was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.  His fourth win of the season, and 20^th lifetime, Two Fold Cold paid $6.80 to win by a comfortable four length margin.

Tenzing Bromac finished second; Instant Replay was third.

A few races later while dusk began to settle over the Downeast oval, Drew Campbell sent Alex Having Fun out to the front in a snappy :27.4 first quarter.  From that point the only questions remaining were how fast, and by how many? 

By the 1:25.1 third panel Alex Having Fun had established a four length advantage, and by the head of the stretch that command had increased to eight.

Under the wire, it became obvious that records were made to be broken, as Campbell unleashed the 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven and the pair sprinted home all alone in 1:53.0 by 14-1/4 lengths, eclipsing the previously established all-age pacing track record.

Owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades, Alex Having Fun won his third start of the season and 38th of his career, paying $2.80 to win.  The new standard will surely stand for at least a few months as racing resumes for the annual Cumberland Fair in late September.

Velocity Sub Z (Bruce Ranger) finished second; Ever Hoping A (Ron Cushing) was third.

Earlier in the card Ron Cushing steered Beat Bobby Bayou to a 1:56.2 romp in the $10,000 Open Trot.  Re-writing the record books and establishing a new all-age track record for trotters, the 4-year-old son of Hill I Am is owned by Steve Moskowitz Racing and paid $2.20 to win.

Judge Bob (Drew Campbell) finished second; Big Al M (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

Two $11,623 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers were captured by Real Horrorshow (Kevin Switzer Jr., 2:00.2, $2.20) and Mia’s Boy (Mark Athearn, 2:03.1, $15.80).  Dalton Lee won the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club final with Jaxson R Browne in 2:00, paying $27.80.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers by winning three races on the program, en route to seasonal honors as the perennial leading reinsman also led the dash win total (57) for the 35 race dates during Cumberland’s extended Spring/Summer pari-mutuel meet.  McGwire Sowers, who led early on, finished second with 51, Drew Campbell was third with 37.

The leading conditioners were Autumn Sowers (38), Benson Merrill (32) and Andy Harrington (22).

Racing replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for the annual Cumberland Fair, which starts Sunday, September 21 and continues daily through Sunday, September 28.  The Maine Sire Stakes freshman finals highlight the card on Saturday (Sept. 27). 

The Winter Festival reconvenes on Nov. 2 and races through Dec. 21.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Saturday, Dec. 20. 

A complete schedule can be found at: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/racing-info/

August 2, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Massive Speed showed that he is the big man on campus this season in the Maine Sire Stakes 3-year-old male pacing division, picking up his fifth in a row on Friday (Aug. 1) at Cumberland Raceway.

Winning the first $11,937 division of the glamour boys group in lifetime best equaling 1:57.4, the Marc Tardif trainee has not seen the back of helmet since last season when he anointed himself the ‘Maine’ Monster of the Midway with a perfect 10-for-10 in the freshman follies.

Driven from pillar to post by Bruce Ranger for owner Leighton Property, the son of Dude’s The Man has earned a handsome sum of $30,291 this year, to bring his lifetime bankroll to $164,821.  

Bred in Maine by Laurie Harding, Massive Speed won in hand by 4-3/4 lengths and paid $2.40 as the 1/5 favorite.  Race Me Celtic (Drew Campbell) finished second; Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason) was third.

In the second $11,937 division Keenan Star (9-2, Heath Campbell) rolled out to an early lead, clearing just after the :28.3 opening panel.  Easing the tempo a bit, the son of Western Maverick led the pack through a softer :59.2 mid-way point.

Public choice No Guts No Glory (4/5, McGwire Sowers) got away last and had made up significant ground and headed the pacesetter into the 1:29 third panel.  While the aggressor showed some guts with his first over move, he failed to reap the glory as Keenan Star fought back and drew away with a length victory in 1:59.2.

Owned, trained and bred by Valerie Grondin, it was the first win of the year for the homebred colt, earning a new time badge for his efforts.  He paid $11.00 to win.

I’m Not Maverick (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Just Aftermidnight (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers with three wins on the program.

Racing resumes on the final day of the summer meet Saturday (Aug. 2), which includes a full card simulcast of Hambletonian Day from the Meadowlands, as well as two $11,623 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers.  Doors open at 12 noon, but first live post is still 3:15 pm.

The featured race of the day is the annual $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, which is carded as race nine.  Leading the charge in this group is Tenzing Bromac N (2-1, Ron Cushing) who was just third in the $75,000 Beckwith Memorial at Plainridge.  With 20 wins down under, the 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight is making his first start on a half-mile track.

Former Maine Sire Stakes star Two Fold Cold (5-2, Dave Ingraham) is the second choice from post four, and he finished second in that same rich Beckwith Mem.

In addition, there are two $11,623 divisions of 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, a $10,000 Open Trot, and three $8,000 End of Summer Pop Up Series finals.

Post time for both days is 3:15 pm, and there is a Trifecta in all races, and the program also features a plethora of 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.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.