April 19, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
CUMBERLAND, ME – Jax Spratt cleaned up the featured $5,500 conditioned trot on ‘Good Friday’ (April 18) at Cumberland Raceway, winning his first start of the season.
When the gate sprung in the afternoon’s third race, trainer-driver Aaron Hall sent his charge out to the front lickety split, following a miscue of the pylon sitting favorite Casanova Hall (6-5).
As the field rolled past the paddock for the first time McGwire Sowers popped the deuce with Gemstone Pillar (4-1) and assumed command into a :30.1 opening panel. Around the 3/8’s pole Drew Cambell pulled Casanova Hall to the outside in an attempt to reel in the leaders. Following that cover through the 1:02.2 half was Little Macabee (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.).
The field had tightened significantly, with tempo setting Gemstone Pillar finding Casanova Hall at his throat latch while passing the third stanza in 1:32.3. Little Macabee was still poised to pounce second over, while Jax Spratt sat patiently while locked in the box.
Around the final turn and heading for home the tiring leader drifted out a bit which allowed Hall to skim the cones with Jax Spratt and get up by a length for the victory in 2:03.4.
Owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps, the 5-year-old son of Devious Man paid $7.80 to win his first race of the year. He was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock and picked up his 20th career victory, increasing his lifetime earnings to $114,520.
Little Macabee rallied late to be second; Casanova Hall was third.
Aaron Hall, Nick Graffam and McGwire Sowers all had driving doubles on the Friday program, with trainers Andy Harrington and Autym Robinson harnessing a pair of winners.
Racing resumes at Cumberland for Saturday’s (April 19) card, which carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s second Maine Amateur Driving Club event. The $4,000 purse attracted a full field of eight entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. Michael Girouard, fresh off a win with his own Menlo Park last week, and has been installed as the 5-2 favorite while aboard Kate Gerow’s Yankee Sparkle this week.
The early meet’s better pacers clash in the $5,000 fifth race conditioned pace. Zack Vickerson sends Sheriff N (2-1, Switzer Jr.) who is fresh off a win as a $10,000 claimer last week. The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has been tagged at $12,000 this week and looks to earn the respect of the punters with his strong effort in his last outing.
Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race (with a carryover), 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.
Fans can catch all the live action on-line by selecting the video player tab on our website:
Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.
First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.
