May 10, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – McStoned Again rocked and rolled to victory during the ‘Trottin’ Friday’ $5,500 feature on May 9 at Cumberland Raceway. 

Scoring from pylon position driver McGwire Sowers let the swift Rose Run Yakim (2-1, Drew Campbell) and the inside positioned Mister Muscle (8-1, Nick Graffam) engage in a brief tussle for the front end into a :28.4 opening panel.

With Rose Run Yakim ultimately securing the point, the 4-5 favorite McStoned Again sat comfortably in the three hole until the soft 1:00.4 half mile marker.  Providing cover for the second over Little Macabee (13-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.), Sowers kept his horse engaged with the leader who had already popped the earplugs at the 1:30.2 third stanza and could not withstand the challenge.

Around the final turn and down the stretch it was all over but the shouting as the favorite cruised down to the wire in 2:01 by 3-3/4 lengths.  Trained by Christopher Hitchcock for owner Michael Pease, the 7-year-old son of Wishing Stone picked up his first win of the season and 29^th of his career. Increasing his lifetime earnings to $274,869, he paid $3.60 to win.

Rose Run Yakim hung on for second; Inquiring Mind (13-1, Steve Wilson) came from last at the three-quarters to pick up the show dough.

J S Peyton took the second race $4,800 conditioned trot in 2:00.1 for driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Benson Merrill.  He paid $5.00 to win for owners Bill Tracy and John and Thelma Kiernan.  It was the 10-year-old son of Swan For All’s third victory of the season.

Broadway Giant picked up his first seasonal victory, taking the fifth race $4,200 cond. trot in 2:00.4, also in rein to Bruce Ranger.  The 11-year-old son of Broadway Hall is owned and trained by Ron Patione, and paid $3.20.

Driver Nick Graffam picked up three wins on the afternoon program, two of which were harnessed by Jamie Gerard, who also won the opener resulting in a three-bagger.

Racing continues on Saturday (May 10) at 3:15 pm and includes several exotic wagers.  Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race, 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.  There was an $889.76 carryover in the Pentafecta.

Saturday’s (May 10) card carries eight races and hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club event in race two.  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.  Todd Whitney drives the favorite Hoosier Shark from post four.

The faster pacers meet in the $5,500 fifth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson trains and drives the 3-1 favorite Heavensway A.  The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight races without the claiming tag and looks to recover from his uncharacteristic miscue in his last outing.  Former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (7-2, Dave Ingraham) is steadily improving and will look to mix things up a bit.

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.

May 8, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – ‘Trottin’ Friday’ features the diagonally gaited set in three of the nine races programmed on Friday (May 9) at Cumberland Raceway, including the featured $5,500 conditioned trot.

Aaron Hall has Bill Phipps’ Jax Spratt in peak condition and has not missed a check with the horse in his last seven outings.  The 5-year-old son of Devious Man has earned $115,680 lifetime and has enjoyed 20 trips to the winners circle.

Despite being saddled with post seven, the consistent trotter has a win and a second place finish in his last four starts, leaving mostly from the outer tier of the starting car.  Installed as the 5-1 third choice, he is trained and driven by Hall.

Jax Spratt’s biggest threat comes from the pylon positioned McStoned Again (9-5, McGwire Sowers) who is also an accomplished racehorse, having won 28 times in his five-year racing career.  Also getting the trackman’s consideration is the Rose Run Yakim (5-2, Drew Campbell) who is coming off a win in his last start against a lesser bunch.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday and includes several exotic wagers  Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race, 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.

Saturday’s (May 10) card carries eight races and hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club event in race two.  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.  Todd Whitney drives the favorite Hoosier Shark from post four.

The faster pacers meet in the $5,500 fifth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson trains and drives the 3-1 favorite Heavensway A.  The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight races without the claiming tag and looks to improve upon his uncharacteristic miscue in his last outing.  Former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (7-2, Dave Ingraham) is steadily improving and will look to mix things up a bit.

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.

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.

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.

May 3, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Zach Vickerson took the overland route to victory when he guided his own Big Al M to a thrilling three-quarter length victory in the $6,000 featured trot on Friday (May 2) at Cumberland Raceway.

Scoring from post four the 7-year-old son of Anders Bluestone was off the car when the wings folded and floated into fifth position at the start, with 16-1 longshot To My Credit on the engine and taking point for driver Dave Ingraham.  Around the first turn Jax Spratt (4-1, Aaron Hall) settled for second with Little Macabee (13-1, Drew Campbell) grabbing the three hole.   

The field was stretched out into a snappy :29 opening panel, but started to tighten up at the 1:00 half with the 4-5 choice Big Al M tipping to the outside.  Just before the 5/8’s pole the favorite picked up the first over cover of Little Macabee.  Sensing some hesitation with his cover, Vickerson pulled three-wide at the 1:29.4 third stanza and began his ascent to the top.

Track announcer Mike Cushing exclaimed, “Double-digit Dave is trying to go the distance,”

but Big Al M was full of trot and continued his outside momentum through the turn and down the stretch.

To My Credit had led every step of the way and was valiantly fighting off the late charge of both Jax Spratt and Big Al M, who ultimately prevailed in 2:00.3.

Owned, trained and driven by Zach Vickerson, it was the 23^rd victory of the veteran trotter’s career, but first of the season.  His lifetime earnings increased to $476,665, and he paid $3.60 to win.

To My Credit held on for second; Jax Spratt was third.  The mutuels resulted in a $398 carryover for Saturday’s Pick-5.

Drivers Drew Campbell and Walter Case Jr. each picked up two wins on the Friday program, along with conditioner Bob Marston who harnessed a pair of winners.  The track sends additional congratulations to trainer Jamie Gerard who grabbed three wins on last Friday’s program en route to securing a 1,000 career win plateau.

Racing at Cumberland continues on Saturday (May 3), and with horse racing’s Kentucky Derby taking center stage in the national spotlight this weekend, Cumberland Raceway will offer coverage of the biggest day on the Thoroughbred Triple Crown calendar.

Fans and bettors can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs, including Saturday’s 151st Run for the Roses.  Doors open at 12 noon for the full-card simulcast of horse racing’s premier event, with a host of food and beverage options available all day at the iconic Cumberland Fairgrounds. 

First Tracks’ full card of live harness racing starts at 3:15 pm with ten races slated for Saturday (May 3, Kentucky Derby Day).  Both Harness and Thoroughbred programs will be available.

Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race, 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.

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.

April 26, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Drew Campbell needed no RSVP as he sent Dinner Party to a wire-to-wire romp in the featured $5,500 conditioned pace on Saturday (April 26) on a damp and foggy afternoon at Cumberland Raceway.

Leaving from pylon position, Campbell hustled the 6-year-old son of American Ideal right to the top where he immediately procured a 3-1/2 length lead into the :30.1 opening panel.  Bare Bone (Walter Case Jr.) got away second with 3-5 favorite Heavensway A (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tracking along closely in third.

Dinner Party led the way into a 1:01 half with a rough gaited Bare Bone losing ground which allowed Heavensway A to assume the two-hole and initiate further movement in the outer flow. 

With Bare Bone going off stride while approaching the 5/8’s pole, the trailing horses were scattered in the back of the pack.  This allowed Dinner Party and Heavensway A to gain some separation from the rest of the field in a much swifter 1:28.3 third stanza, with the leader on top by 4-1/2 length margin. 

By the head of the stretch it was all over but the clean up as Dinner Party enjoyed a plate smashing victory in 1:59, hitting the buffet line three lengths ahead of Heavensway A for a new seasonal mark.

Trained by Christopher DuBois for owner Mary Fernald, it was his second seasonal victory and 13^th of his career.  Dinner Party now has $64,509 in lifetime earnings and treated his backers to a handsome $10.00 gratuity.

Flow With Joe (Aaron Hall) finished third.

Aaron Hall picked up his second win in a row with the Andy Harrington trained Forrest Blu, who took his $5,000 conditioned pace in 2:00.1.  Blasting three-wide down the backside, the 6-year-old son of Roll With Joe paid $6.40 to win for the second time in three seasonal starts.

Mike Stevenson found his way to the winners circle with Rest Assured from the outside post seven.  Taking the $4,400 conditioned pace, Stevenson got up in the final strides with the 8-year-old son of Westwardho Hanover to score in 2:04.4.  Also trained by Mike Stevenson for owner David Zuckerman, the duo paid $16.00.

Todd ‘Too Tough’ Whitney took the weekly $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event with Michelle Lefebvre’s Nagle in 2:03, paying $4.40 to win.  Smartys Filly (Jason Bertolini) finished second; Bush Man N (Hunter Lofthus) was third.  The race is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

Nick Graffam won three races on the program and Drew Campbell piloted a pair of winners.

After six programs during Cumberland’s Spring-Summer meet the leading driver is McGwire Sowers with 13 wins, Nick Graffam has 10 and Drew Campbell rounds out the top troika with nine victories.  Autym Robinson is the leading conditioner with 12 wins, followed by Benson Merrill (6) and Mike Graffam and Andy Harrington with four apiece.

Replays are available on-line at our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (May 2).  Looking ahead to next Saturday (May 3), 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 Raceway 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.

April 26, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Empereurthebest FR ruled the featured $5,500 conditioned trot on Friday (April 25) at Cumberland Raceway, and is now two-for-two on the season.

Scoring from post seven, ‘Casey’ was content to allow his French-bred steed settle in the fourth position as Jax Spratt (1-1, Aaron Hall) assumed the early command.  Empereurthebest FR pulled going past he paddock the first time and blasted up to the front just past the :29.1 opening panel.

Following the softer :59.3 half-mile marker Drew Campbell tipped Rose Run Yakim (7-2) from fourth to move up first over around the third turn.  Jax Spratt was sitting pretty in the catbird seat, with Inquiring Mind (16-1, Steve Wilson) on the cones fourth.  He was joined by Gemstone Pillar (15-1, McGwire Sowers) gapping second over through the 1:29.3 third stanza

Although the challengers tried valiantly, down the stretch there was no catching Empereurthebest FR, as the 11-year-old son of Un Amour D’haufor coasted home in 2:00 by a length and a quarter.

Driven by Walter Case Jr. for owner Stanley Bubier Jr. and trainer James Dunn, it was his second consecutive victory of the year.  He paid $6.40 to win.

Inquiring Mind finished second; Rose Run Yakim was third.

McGwire Sowers won four races on the program, three of which were trained by Autym Robinson.  Nick Graffam and Drew Campbell each piloted a pair of winners..

Racing resumes at Cumberland for Saturday’s (April 26) card, which carries nine races and kicks off with the season’s third Maine Amateur Driving Club event.  The race is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The swifter sidesteppers meet in the $5,500 seventh race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson sends Heavensway A (9-5, Switzer Jr.) who comes off a wire to wire romp in the slop last week. 

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:

Live Racing • Video Replays

Looking ahead to next Saturday, 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.

April 20, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Sheriff N took no prisoners in locking up the featured $5,000 conditioned pace on Saturday (April 19) at Cumberland Raceway. 

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. wasted little time taking command of the event, sending his 1-2 favorite out to a snappy :28.1 opening quarter from post four.  Also leaving swiftly was Dinner Party (6-1, Drew Campbell) who was happy to reserve his seat in the pocket, with Frank Deford (4-1, Nick Graffam) tracking along in third.

The Sheriff N was treated to a nice breather going into the 59.4 half, which prompted Flow With Joe (7-1, Walter Case Jr.) to initiate the outer flow and move up toward the leaders.  As the field started to stack up past the third stanza, Switzer Jr. had let out a notch and tripped the backside timer in 1:29.

Turning for home Switzer kept the pocket sitting Dinner Party and Drew Campbell in check, and threw in a :28.3 final quarter to secure the half-length victory in 1:57.3, a seasonal mark.

Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, the 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight grabbed his second win of the season and 34^th of his veteran career.  The victory put the New Zealand-bred stallion over the half million dollar mark lifetime.

Switzer Jr. ultimately scored a hat trick on the card, also winning with Always At My Place (1:57, $16.80) and Bolt Ruler (1:59.2, $9.40).

McGwire Sowers enjoyed a driving double on the Saturday program, with trainer Autym Robinson repeating with a pair of winners.  The father and son duo of driver Nick Graffam and trainer Mike Graffam teamed up to take the late double (4-2, $12.80) with Big Plan Stan (1:59.4, $5.80) and Sailor Jerry (1:59.1, $3.80).

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (April 25) for our third weekend of racing.

Replays are available on-line by selecting the video player tab on our website:

Live Racing • Video Replays

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.

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 20^th 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:

Live Racing • Video Replays

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.

April 18, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Two entrants from the Eric Bickmore stable will battle for trotting supremacy on ‘Good Friday’ (April 18) at Cumberland Raceway in the featured $5,500 conditioned trot.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday with a ten race card, and pits Casanova Hall (2-1, Drew Campbell) against Little Macabee (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) in race three.

Last season, the pair combined for earnings of $100,612, with the pylon positioned Casanova Hall individually at $60,767.  Coming off a win in his last start on opening day, the 4-year-old son of Greenshoe is moving up in class, yet has been installed as the early morning line favorite.

Little Macabee finished first or second on 14 occasions last year, all while battling the top trotters in Maine.  The veteran 11-year-old son of Chapter Seven has accrued $268,933 lifetime and now has a new driver for owner Maryann Tompkins.

Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race, 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.

Saturday’s (April 19) card also 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 meet in the $5,000 fifth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson brings 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 mile last outing. 

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.

April 13, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine Amateur Driving Club was back in action on Saturday (April 12) at Cumberland Raceway, with the popular event set as the opener on a track dampened by overnight snowfall.

The sloppy, yet fast conditions didn’t stop Mike Girouard and his heavy 1-5 favorite Menlo Park from engaging in a front end battle with Hunter Lofthus and Art Scene (9-5) who gained the tactical advantage from the starting car in the $4,000 event.  After begrudgingly surrendering the lead at the start, Girouard was right back out and moving to re-take the front while setting an eye-popping :28 second opening panel.

Girouard gave his charge a brief respite going to the half in :58, but had to increase his tempo to maintain his advantage through a 1:27.4 third stanza.  Enjoying a perfect pocket trip, Lofthus tipped Art Scene to the outside off the final turn and set his sights on the leader.

By mid-stretch the pair were heads apart, and the duo battled gamely through the final strides with Menlo Park and Girouard holding on by a scant neck in 2:00.3 to capture the victory. The 8-year-old son of Betterthancheddar is also owned and trained by Girouard, and paid $2.60 for the score.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club events are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The dynamic duo of McGwire Sowers and Autym Robinson teamed up to take a pair of events, including the $5,500 feature with Hypnoticdream (2:02.1, $3.40) and Readyfortheladys (2:00.4, $4.60).  The pair have accrued five wins over the opening weekend.

Top reinsmen Drew Campbell and Kevin Switzer each grabbed a pair of victories on the day’s program.

For Campbell, the wins came with Dinner Party (2:00.3, $4.00) for trainer Chris DuBois, and Rose Run Slider (2:01.2, $9.20) for Mark Harris.

Switzer’s scores were aboard Heavensway A (2:02, $2.40) and Sherrif N ((2:02.3, $2.40), who were both harnessed by Zack Vickerson.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (April 18), and the box closes at 10 am on Tuesday (April 15) for a double draw.

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.