May 4, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Drew Campbell helped himself to a second helping of sweet victory in the $5,500 featured pace on Saturday (May 3) at Cumberland Raceway, giving Dinner Party two in a row in the ‘fine dining’ section.
Known to ‘send ‘em’ out to the front, Campbell did just that from his pylon position in race five, setting a quick opening fraction of :28.4 in the rain with the 3-2 favorite. Zach Vickerson also protected his inside position and maintained the two-hole with his own Heavensway A (4-1), which allowed the speedy Tobins Burke (16-1, Nick Graffam) to get away third.
The outer flow began to materialize past the :59.2 half mile marker, with Tobins Burke leading the charge, followed by Forrest Blu (3-1, Aaron Hall) and Two Fold Cold (11-1, Dave Ingraham).
Around the paddock turn the second time Heavensway A who was still in the catbird seat, decided it was time to gallop, which pushed the rest to field back and forced the trailers to go out and around his offstride antics. This gave Dinner Party a temporary six length lead heading past the 1:27.2 third panel.
Rounding the turn for home the former Maine sophomore pacing champion Two Fold Cold turned on the afterburner and rocketed down the lane in an attempt to catch the leader. The now 4-year-old’s quick turn of foot brought Dinner Party’s advantage down to a mere two lengths at the wire, where the pacesetter still managed to prevail in 1:58.2.
(Joe Shaw photo).
Trained by Chris Dubois for owner Mary Fernald, the 6-year-old son of American Ideal picked up his second straight second win, and third in his last four starts. His lifetime earnings now stand at $67,259 with 14 career victories. Dinner Party paid $5.00 to win.
Two Fold Cold was second; Tobins Burke finished third.
Todd Whitney won the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) race with Nagle in 2:02.1. Trained by Michelle Lefebvre, he paid $2.80 to win. MADC races are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.
Driver Aaron Hall grabbed a hat trick on the program, including taking the early daily double, both with horses trained by Andy Harrington. Drew Campbell and Zach Vickerson both enjoyed a pair of driving victories on the Kentucky Derby Day card.
Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (May 9).
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.
