Can Big Al M overcome post eight at Cumberland?

November 21, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Big Al M returned to his winning ways last week, after a dry spell going back to September. However, this week the veteran trotter has been saddled with post position eight in the $5,500 top trot on Saturday (Nov. 22) at First Tracks Cumberland.

While the 7-year-old son of Anders Bluestone has picked up nine victories this season, including a pair of wins a Cumberland with his owner/trainer Zach Vickerson in the sulky, and is the winner of 31 races and $520,705 in his career, the question remains: can the accomplished trotter get the job done from the outermost starting point.

Last week top reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. put Big Al M right on the front end and took care of business by fending off the late charge of Brutalizer with Andy Harrington at the controls. Regardless of post, Big Al M has been installed as the 2-1 early morning line favorite from the outside, and retains the sulky services of Switzer Jr.

The Trackman’s second pick is Valyrian Steel (5-2, Cain MacKenzie) who has five wins this year and never misses a check. He scores from post two.

The third choice is Brutalizer from post seven (4-1, Andy Harrington) who has six wins on the season and has been second in his last two starts for his new connections.

The $5,500 featured trot is programmed as race nine on the eleven race card.

Veteran teamster ‘Double-digit Dave’ Ingraham is very close to his 8,000^th career victory, now sitting at 7,996 lifetime wins. Over the weekend Ingraham has 15 drives: eight on Saturday and seven on Sunday.

Driving harness horses since 1980, the 63-year-old has 69 wins this year with earnings of $584,740. Over his 45-year career he has driven the winners of over $32 million and enjoyed a dozen seasons with a million or more in earnings. His statistically best year was 1995 where the Maine-native won 403 races and $2.7 million in purses.

The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the eighth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Racing continues on Sunday (Nov. 23) at First Tracks Cumberland with a 13-race card. Our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025. Post time remains 10:55 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Arts Flight does it again at Cumberland

November 17, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Local pacer Arts Flight captured his second $5,000 feature in as many weeks on Sunday (Nov. 16) at Cumberland Raceway, this time with Nick Graffam in the sulky.

Graffam flushed the 1/5 favorite from the car from post two and grabbed the point with minimal urging. The 4-year-old son of Artistic Fella hit the opening panel in a modest :29 seconds with Press Time (10-1, Aaron Hall) poised in the pocket.

The field was stretched out through a soft :59.1 half-mile marker, with little action materializing on the outside. The first challenge came in the form of Grand Gallop Semalu (8-1, Andy Harrington) who was sitting fifth until the paddock turn and brushed up alongside the leaders by the time they reached the 1:29 third stanza. Always A Mystery (27-1, McGwire Sowers) followed his cover on the outside and brushed into contention while rounding the final turn.

At the head of the stretch the pacesetting Arts Flight had his work cut out for him as the the two challengers set their sights on the wire and were gaining momentum with every stride. Through mid-stretch Arts Flight fought back and was able to keep the would-be spoilers at bay as they hit the finish line together in 1:59.3.

Trained by Sara Harrington and owned by Mac Stables, Arts Flight prevailed by three parts of a length to capture his second win in a row and eighth of the season. He returned $2.60 and was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Grand Gallop Semalu finished second, just a quarter-length in front of the fast closing Always A Mystery, who was third.

In other news, Todd Whitney won the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event with Lear Seelster in 2:02, returning $4.80.

Leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. swept nearly half the card, winning six races on the program, including the last four races of the day. Nick Graffam, Aaron Hall and Steve Wilson all grabbed driving doubles. Conditioner Zach Vickerson enjoyed a training triple.

Switzer Jr. has a nearly insurmountable lead in the Cumberland drivers standings, sitting way atop the leaderboard with 83 trips to the winners circle. McGwire Sowers (51), Aaron Hall (40), Nick Graffam (38) and Drew Campbell (37) round out the top five.

Racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 22) at First Tracks Cumberland, with the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continuing its weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Giant score for Big Al M at Cumberland

November 16, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Big Al M rolled to a wire-to-wire triumph on Saturday (Nov. 15) at Cumberland Raceway, snapping a month-long drought in the featured $5,500 conditioned trot.

Leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. put the 1/9 heavy favorite right on the engine and led the field to a :29.2 opening panel, with Brutalizer (4-1) and Andy Harrington sitting in a tight pocket.

As the group hit the half in 1:00.3 the outer flow began with Steve Wilson tipping Inquiring Mind, followed by Cain MacKenzie and Valyrian Steel who were gapping their second-over cover.

With the competitors advancing Switzer Jr. tapped the accelerator down the backstretch and hit the third stanza in 1:29.3, which gave Brutalizer some daylight and allowed Harrington to muscle his way out around the final turn and begin a battle down to the wire.

Big Al M continued to hold sway over the challengers, as the 7-year-old son of Anders Bluestone maintained his momentum and prevailed by three parts of a length in 1:59.4. Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, it was his ninth win of the season and 31^st of his career. Returning $2.20, he increased his lifetime bankroll to $520,705.

Brutalizer finished second; Valyrian Steel got up for third.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed four wins on the program, and Andy Harrington, Dave Ingraham and Mike Stevenson each grabbed a pair.

Veteran teamster ‘Double-digit Dave’ Ingraham is quickly approaching a milestone of 8,000 career victories, and now sits at 7,996. When racing resumes on Sunday (Nov. 16) at First Tracks Cumberland with a 13-race card, Ingraham is programmed with ten drives. Driving harness horses since 1980, the 63-year-old has 69 wins this year with earnings of $584,740. Over his 45-year career he has driven the winners of over $32 million and enjoyed a dozen seasons with a million or more in earnings. His statistical best year was 1995 where the Maine-native won 403 races and $2.7 million in purses.

The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the tenth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Arts Flight takes feature at Cumberland

November 10, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Former Maine Sire Stakes star Arts Flight captured the $5,000 feature on Sunday (Nov. 9) at Cumberland Raceway, helping his driver Aaron Hall grab three wins on the midday program.

Hall left alertly from post four with his 4-year-old son of Artistic Fella, along with a cavalry charge of other position seekers. Arts Flight went around the pylon-protecting Premier Joy A (11-1, Shawn Thayer) just past the snappy :28.4 opening panel, with Wolftrax (9-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) hung out to dry from post seven.

Heading to the :58.4 half Arts Flight was in full command with Wolftrax hanging tough European style and leading the outer flow, which was stacked up four deep.

Heath Campbell tipped 6-5 favorite JK Objection three-wide down the backside to engage with the leaders into a 1:28 third panel, advancing from fifth to second by the time the field hit the final turn.

Down the stretch the two pacers battled feverishly, leaving the rest of the field in a five-length wake. At the wire Arts Flight was able to fend off the assault of JK Objection by a neck in 1:57.4.

Trained by Sara Harrington for owner Mac Stables, the 5-2 second choice returned $7.40. He was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and picked up his seventh seasonal score. Always A Mystery (McGwire Sowers) finished third.

Driver Aaron Hall enjoyed three wins on the program, including Polyester (2:00, $3.60) and Press Time (2:00.4, $3.60) who he also trains.

Leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. had three wins on both the Saturday and Sunday cards, while Heath Campbell enjoyed four wins on Saturday, including a track record with Pembroke Breeze who set a new 1:58 standard for a 4-year-old trotting mare.

Racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 15) at First Tracks Cumberland, with the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continuing its weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Pembroke Breeze takes top trot at Cumberland

November 9, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Pembroke Breeze sailed to a front-end victory on Saturday (Nov. 8) at Cumberland Raceway, taking the $5,500 conditioned trot in a lifetime best 1:58.

As the wings folded, the 4-year-old daughter of Pembroke Slugger was briefly behind the 33-1 longshot To My Credit (Mike Stevenson), but tipped out and went around the early leaver through the paddock turn to take command at the :29.1 opening panel.

By the :59.2 half-mile marker Pembroke Breeze was in total command as the rest of the field tracked loosely behind the former Maine Sire Stakes champion.

Just past the half the even-money co-favorite Valyrian Steel (Kevin Switzer Jr.) moved first over from fifth to improve his position. Brutalizer (12-1, Andy Harrington) followed closely second-up as the trotters moved past the paddock turn the second time.

The public’s choice led the field to a 1:28.3 third stanza and began to gain separation as the rest of the pack fanned out around the final turn. All alone and drawing off by 7-1/2 lengths, Pembroke Breeze took her seventh win of the season.

Driven by Heath Campbell for owner/trainer Valerie Grondin, it was her 19^th career victory and a new time badge, boosting her lifetime earnings to $209,774. She returned $4.20. Brutalizer finished second; To My Credit was third.

Racing continues on Sunday (Nov. 7) at First Tracks Cumberland with a 13-race card.

The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Valyrian Steel will test his mettle at Cumberland

November 7, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Saturday (Nov. 8) program at Cumberland Raceway will feature a $5,500 conditioned trot, with local campaigner Valyrian Steel looking to carve another notch in his Standardbred sword.

The 6-year-old son of trotting’s hottest sire, Chapter Seven, has accrued an impressive three victories in his last five starts, including a pair of victories during ‘Fair week’ at the iconic Southern oval.

Owned and trained by Chad Tompkins Valyrian Steel (2-1, post five) boasts five seasonal victories with $26,240 earned. He gets the services of the red-hot Kevin Switzer Jr, who won seven races on last Sunday’s opening day card.

Interestingly, his last three wins were with Heath Campbell in the sulky. However, Campbell’s has his own stable’s charge, former Maine Sire Stakes champion Pembroke Breeze, leaving from pylon position. Pegged as the second choice at 5-2, the daughter of Pembroke Slugger already has six wins this season.

The featured trot is programmed as race six on the ten race card.

The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Racing continues on Sunday (Nov. 7) at First Tracks Cumberland with a 13-race card. Our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Switzer Jr. secures seven scores at Cumberland

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

CUMBERLAND, ME – Leading reinsmen Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on opening day of the Winter Festival at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2), winning seven of the nine races he drove in.

Switzer Jr. wasted little time finding the Blue Seal Winner’s circle at the iconic Southern Maine oval, sending even-money favorite Eager Beaver to a 2:02 maiden-breaking victory in the opener. Owned by Sara Fernald and trained by Billy DuBois, the 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight returned $4.20.

The Maine-native, third generation horseman came right back in the second to secure the daily double with trotter Foxy Trottin Stick in 2:01.2, his second two-hole trip of the day. The 9-year-old son of Big Stick Lindy paid $3.00 for owner-trainer Jamie Gerard.

In the fourth race the 38-year-old teamster went down the road with Smokin By N in 1:56. An 11-year-old son of Mach Three who is owned and trained by Scott Vickerson, he returned $4.40.

The fifth race witnessed another wire-to-wire rout from post six with Ga Speed Matrix (2:00.1, $3.80).

The $5,000 feature saw Kreacher win by a neck in 1:57.4 for the red-hot reinsman. Owned and trained by Nancy Stewart, the 10-year-old son of Pet Rock returned a handsome $19.60 to win. 3-2 public choice Wolftrax (Heath Campbell) finished second.

Switzer picked up his sixth and seventh wins on the 10-race card with Ten Beaches Later (2:00.3, $2.20) and Gotta Minute N (1:57.1, $3.80).

While winning seven on one harness racing program may seem like a magical accomplishment, this is not the first time that Kevin Switzer Jr. has accomplished this lofty feat.

According to New England harness racing historian and Bangor track announcer Mike Sweeney the top pilot has completed the task on three previous occasions: Scarborough Downs and at the Skowhegan State Fair in 2014, and again at Skowhegan this year. It’s no surprise that Switzer Jr. is having another career year having eclipsed his previous earnings threshold of $2.67 million in 2023. This year he stands at $2.68 million and 308 victories with plenty of racing still to be contested.

Overall Switzer Jr. has amassed $21 million in earnings over his 20-plus year career with 3,817 wins since he began driving in 2003.

In other news, Todd Whitney took the Maine Amateur Driving Club race with Keystone Maxim in 1:59.1, returning $2.40.

For the fifth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 20. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with their photograph in the special commemorative program. Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 3. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

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

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Nov. 8), post time 10:55 am. The Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues with weekend (Sat-Sun) action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet continues through Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Winter Festival begins Sunday at First Tracks Cumberland

November 1, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2) for the first of 18 Southern Maine racing dates, knows as the “Winter Festival,” with some of the Pine Tree State’s top trotters and pacers kicking off the ten-race card.

The $5,000 featured conditioned pace pits Wolftrax (2-1, Heath Campbell) against Arts Flight (5-1, Aaron Hall) in the seventh race skirmish.

Ironically, Hall sat behind both horses during their last trip to the winners circle. For Wolftrax, who is trained by Eric Bickmore and has five wins on the season and $34,873 earned, his last victory was just two weeks ago at Bangor in 1:56.4. The 6-year-old son of Betting Line leaves from pylon position.

For Arts Flight, a former, multiple Maine Sire Stakes winner last year at three, he last wowed the crowds at the famous Fryeburg Fair on October 1, scoring in 1:58. The 4-year-old son of Artistic Fella scores from post five for trainer Sara Harrington.

Race six marks the return of the ‘greatest side show’ in harness racing, the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event.

Most of the usual suspects are back behind the Wes Brown starting gate, including: Jason Bertolini (P1, DT Petlot), Joe Burke (P2, Plus One), Hunter Lofthus (P3, Skyway Ballet), Todd Whitney (P4, Keystone Maxim) and Johnathan Bresnahan (P8, Smartys Filly) who is back from his big 1:53.3 score with Manny at the Delaware (OH) County Fair in the Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Championship.

Overall, the entire program has a lot of action for horse players with eight events boasting full seven or eight horse fields. The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting, which enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5. The 18-day meet continues through Dec. 21, 2025.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/