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.
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