May 25, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Hunter Lofthus showed why he is the top dog in the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), as the 36-year-old reinsman sat chilly on the outside for the three parts of the mile, ultimately outlasting being parked and the challenge of fresher foes to score once again. 

Scoring from post four with Ten Beaches Later (2-1) the field was led to the :28.1 opening panel by Zach Vickerson and the even money favorite Dark Matter.  Todd Whitney (7-2, Nagle) kept the two-hole shut as the field rounded the far turn for the first time. While it was evident that neither teamster intended to relent, the :59.1 half allowed the rest of the pack to stack up while Vickerson and Lofthus battled for the front while heading down the backside the second time.

With Dark Matter being urged to no avail, Ten Beaches Later and Lofthus were able to take the lead while Mr Blissfull (12-1, Jason Bertolini) rolled three wide on the outside past the 1:30.1 third stanza.  And if fending off the pacesetter and the first over challenger wasn’t enough, Lofthus had to hold off the late charge of Todd Whitney and Nagle up the inside.

Down to the wire Ten Beaches Later prevailed in the $4,000 MADC event by three parts of a length over Nagle in 2:02.3.

Owned and Trained by Benson Merrill, it was the second win in a row for the 10-year-old son of Net Ten Eom.  He paid $6.00 to win for the 38th time in his career.

Mr Blissfull finished third.  Lofthus leads all drivers in the MADC with 71 points, followed by Todd Whitney (53), and Jason Bertolini (24).

The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

In other news, 6-5 favorite Call Me Maverick (Mike Stevenson) cut the fractions in the $5,500 co-featured pace but was caught at the wire Vel Letsroll South (6-1, McGwire Sowers) in 1:59.2.

Trained by Autym Robinson for trainer Moo Co Inc., the 7-year-old son of Time To Roll sat fourth most of the mile and tipped out around the final bend to blast past the leaders and pay $15.40 for the score.

Call Me Maverick hung on for second, Dinner Party (4-1, Drew Campbell) finished third.

Wally Watson cruised to a wire-to-wire score with Kount Blaster in the other $5,500 co-feature, winning easily in 2:01.1.  Trained by Lisa Watson for owner Joseph Pisarski, the 7-year-old son of Sunshine Beach paid $4.80.

Hypnoticdream (3-1, McGwire Sowers) finished second; Tobins Burke (14-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

Drivers Drew Campbell and Nick Graffam each enjoyed three wins on the program.

Next week’s (Tuesday) draw includes several lucrative late closing series to choose from, most with $12,500 finals.  Three events start on May 31 and continue through the month of June.  More information can be found on our website, firsttrackscumberland.com.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (May 30) at 3:15 pm.

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.