June 8, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Rock Candy utilized his pylon position to secure his supremacy in the $6,400 featured NW5000 Pace on Sunday (June 7) at Cumberland Raceway, showing once again that the shortest distance between two points is straight.

At the start three horses made a mad dash for the lead with Kevin Switzer Jr. holding Rock Candy steady along the pegs while offsetting the rush of Vel Straight Out (2-1, McGwire Sowers) and Vel Larry (14-1, Mike Stevenson) as the three hard-chargers stormed to the opening panel in a testy :27.2.

Heading into the second turn Sowers took Vel Straight Out back to third with Stevenson moving forward with Vel Larry in a short-lived pacesetting position.  By the time the pacers rounded the bend Switzer Jr. had re-taken the point with heavy 4-5 favorite Rock Candy and proceeded to dictate the terms of the engagement, backing down the half to :57.4.

As they passed the stands for the first time Aaron Hall had swung Married Man (5-1) first over with Liam’s Ace (7-1) enjoying that second up cover.  Down the backside the final time Married Man was parked and stalling, forcing Liam’s Ace three-wide into a 1:27 third station.

Around the final turn Liam’s Ace took aim on the leader, but Rock Candy was as solid as a rock and drew off like a 4 to 5 shot should, scoring in 1:56.4 which was a new seasonal best.

Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, it was the 40^th career victory for the 10-year-old son of Pet Rock.  His lifetime earnings now exceed $720,000, and he returned $3.60 for the score.

Liam’s Ace was second by 1-3/4 lengths, Vel Larry hung on for the show dough.

Switzer Jr. started the day with victories in both halves of the daily double, scoring with Ali (1:56, $2.20) and Beyond The Past (1:57.1, $2.80).  Then he won the fourth with Touch Of Character (1:56.3, $3.20), the aforementioned ninth race feature, and concluded his pentathlon in the finale with Jet Wills (2:00.3, $4.00).

In a prep for the upcoming opening leg of the Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies next Saturday (June 13), several Pine Tree State-bred sophomores battled in the $4,000 Maiden Pace.  When the dust settled it was I’m Not Maverick, a 4-year-old full brother for former Maine champion Call Me Maverick, who got his first lifetime victory with Mike Stevenson in the sulky.

Trained by Alison Hynes, and a proud graduate of the Gordon Corey School of Equine Erudition, the diminutive horse with big shoes to fill was eighth, back 12 lengths at the half and swooped them all to narrowly score in 2:02. The homebred property of Upland Farm, I’m Not Maverick returned $5.60. 

With his five wins on Sunday Switzer Jr. vaulted up the driving ranks to second place with 39 wins, just three behind Nick Graffam who had a pair of wins Sunday and sits on top with 42 on the season.  Aaron Hall is in third place with 37.

Racing resumes Saturday (June 13) when First Tracks Cumberland will continue with Saturday-Sunday cards for the remainder of the month of June.  During July the schedule reverts back to Friday-Saturday, with the exception of a three day run from Fri., July 24 through Sun., July 26 during the penultimate weekend of the meet. 

First post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2. 

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:https://firsttrackscumberland.com/racing-info/

June 7, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Ghetto Boy made quick work of his last assignment on Saturday (June 6) at Cumberland Raceway, taking the $5,800 featured NW3500 Trot in a seasonal best equaling 1:59.3.

When the Wes Brown starting gate wings folded reinsman Hunter Lofthus sent the 8-year-old son of Cantab Hall out to the top, and never looked back.  Guiding the steady trotter through opening fractions of :29 and 1:00.1, Dusty Lane Darby (McGwire Sowers) sat patiently in the two-hole while the rest of the field continued to consider their options.

Heading down the backstretch for the second time Nick Graffam tipped High Gear No Fear to the outside from third position with Dave Ingraham sitting fourth with Little Macabee into a 1:29.3 third panel.  Around the final turn no trotters improved their relative positions, with the exception of the pacesetting Ghetto Boy who had plenty left in the tank and gained additional separation from the rest of the pack while heading toward the finish wire.

Trained by Courtney Pitts for owner Ryan Popovich, he returned $3.60 for the two length victory.

Dusty Lane Darby finished second; High Gear No Fear was third.

Lofthus teamed up with Pitts once again two races later to win with Amalie Hanover (2:01) returning $8.00 in the $5,200 NW2500 conditioned trot.

Drivers McGwire Sowers and Kevin Switzer Jr. also enjoyed a pair of wins on the afternoon card.

With the recent passing of beloved Maryland stallion Roddy’s Bags Again, the Delmarva Deity must have been looking down on his protégé when Switzer Jr. steered Roddys Filly to a five length 1:56 romp for trainer Bob Marston, returning an eye-popping $43.60.

Looking ahead to the following race date, the $6,400 feature on Sunday (June 7) is the NW5000 in race nine, pitting two winners from last week: Vel Strait Out (5-2, McGwire Sowers, PP2) and Rock Candy (7-2, Kevin Switzer Jr., PP 1) against the always tough Married Man (3-1, Aaron Hall) from post six.  This race is shaping up to be a real shoot out with an aggressive bunch of evenly matched side-steppers.

In addition, with the opening leg of the Maine Sire Stakes for sophomore pacing fillies slated for next Saturday (June 13), several of the season’s anticipated participants will be going postward in the $4,000 Maiden Pace carded as race eight.  Sibling relatives to former Pine Tree State champions can be found in Graceofspades and I’m Not Maverick who are seeking their first trip to the winners circle.

On Sunday, the exotic wagering action starts with a Pick-5 in the opener, then the Pick-4 is set for the last four races on the program (races 9-12), the Pick-3 begins in race ten, and all boast a low 16% takeout.  In addition, the 20-cent Superfecta is available in races four, six and eight, along with a Pentafecta in races five and the finale. 

First Tracks Cumberland will continue with Saturday-Sunday cards for the remainder of the month of June.  During July the schedule reverts back to Friday-Saturday, with the exception of the three day run from Fri., July 24 through Sun., July 26 during the penultimate weekend of the meet. 

First post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2. 

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

Racing Info