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/
Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.
