June 22, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Sheriff N did not allow his outside post to thwart his pursuit for pay dirt as he took matters into his own hands and captured the fastest of two $7,500 divisions of the Portland Pacing Series on Saturday (June 21) at Cumberland Raceway.

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. the 11-year-old son of super sire Bettor’s Delight ‘lit ‘em up’ when the starting car pulled away and proceeded to make every call a winning one.  Reaching the quarter in a snappy :27.4, and the half in a more pedestrian :58.3, it was clear that Sheriff N (8-1) was going to have things his own way.

While maintaining a comfortable margin on the lead with just Forrest Blue (2-1, Aaron Hall) in first over chase, and favorite Dinner Party (4/5, Drew Campbell) poised in the pocket, Switzer let out a notch past the 1:27.1 third panel.  Popping the deuce around the final turn, the public’s choice made a valiant effort to catch the pacesetter.

The pair paced stride for stride down to the wire, with Sheriff N capturing the win by a half-length over Dinner Party in 1:56.2, a new seasonal best.

Trained and owned by Zach Vickerson, it was Sheriff N’s third win in a row, and seventh of the season with $21,180 earned.  He paid $19.40 to win.

Forrest Blu finished third.

In the second $7,500 Portland split, Always At My Place showed that the front end was holding up on the sunny afternoon program, scoring by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:56.3.

Driven by Bruce Ranger for owner-trainer Scott Vickerson, the 14-year-old son of Always A Virgin grabbed his fourth win of the season and 71^st of his lengthy career which puts his lifetime bankroll at $1,135,535.  He paid $9.80 to win.

Long Weekend A (4-1, McGwire Sowers) finished second; Deal With It Roman (31-1, Dave Ingraham) was third.

Driver Walter Case Jr. enjoyed three wins on the program, and Aaron Hall grabbed a pair.  Trainer Benson Merrill harnessed a pair of winners.

For the current Spring/Summer meet, after 22 racing dates, McGwire Sowers leads all drivers at Cumberland with 38 victories, followed by Drew Campbell (29), Nick Graffam (22), Kevin Switzer Jr. (20) and a tie for fifth between Aaron Hall and Case Jr. with 19 apiece.

Autym Sowers is the leading trainer with 26 wins, followed by Benson Merrill with 22 victories.

Live video and replays can be found on the track’s website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Racing at First Tracks Cumberland continues throughout the early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is always 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

June 21, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – ‘Double Digit’ Dave Ingraham lived up to his moniker at Cumberland Raceway on Friday afternoon (June 20) by steering Dynamical Tad to a textbook ‘Go to Whoa’ upset in the $5,000 featured trot. 

Scoring from pylon position Ingraham sent the 18-1 longshot out to the front, playing hardball against fellow leavers Rose Run Xander (3/5, Benson Merrill) and Maplewood Slugger (7-2, John Nason) which resulted in a frantic :27.3 opening panel, leaving the rest of the trotters in their wake.

Around the three-eighths marker McGwire Sowers shifted High Gear No Fear (8-1) into gear first over to get around a gapping Maplewood Slugger.  Once comfortably in command, Ingraham was able to ease the tempo down to a more manageable :57.3 half, with second choice Empereurthebest FR (3-1, Walter Case Jr.) picking up the live cover second over.

With Rose Run Xander tight to his helmet, the pacesetter and his tracker had the rest of the field gaining ground as they approached the 1:28 third stanza.  High Gear No Fear maintained his high side momentum and put a head in front of the favorite as they rounded the final turn.

Down the stretch it was clearly Dynamical Tad’s resilience that secured the victory as they crossed the wire in 2:00.1 in front by 3-1/4 lengths.  Trained and co-owned by Luke Varnum with Patricia Varnum, the 5-year-old son of Tad The Stud picked up his second win of the season and a new lifetime mark in the process.  He paid a whopping $38.60 to win.

High Gear No Fear finished second; Maplewood Slugger was third.  The $1 Exacta paid $121.20 and the $1 Trifecta came back $284.70.

Driver Aaron Hall and trainer Jamie Gerard teamed up to take the early double ($7.90) with Quan Blue Chip (1:58.4, $7.60) and Twin B High Tech (1:59.2, $5.20).  McGwire Sowers and his wife Autym also had a pair of winners: Sarah’s Lilly (1:57.3, $2.40) and Shes a Sassy Beach (1:58.3, $4.20).  They may have had a hat trick on the program, however, their star pacing mare Vel Miss Taylor was scratched from race two.

Todd Whitney cruised to another easy victory with Rise N Grind (1:56, $2.20) in the Maine Amateur Driving Club event, with the horse being claimed by trainer Ryan Berry for the $5,000 tag.

Racing continues on Saturday (June 21) with 10 races, including a total of $66,000 in purses spread out among various legs of late closing series events.

The winner of the $12,500 Rockland series final, Dinner Party (2-1, Drew Campbell) will look to celebrate once again in his $7,500 leg of the Portland Pacing Series.  The 6-year-old son of American Ideal boasts five wins and $23,665 in earnings this year.

Heavensway A (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) leads the pack in the other $7,500 division of the Portland.  Fresh off of two wins, the 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven has to contend with post eight.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of exotic wagers.  Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race and brings a $498.78 carryover.  The special wagers continue with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and conclude with a High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Live video and replays can be found on the track’s website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Racing at First Tracks Cumberland continues throughout the early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is always 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

June 20, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Late closing series purses adding up to $66,000 highlight this weekend’s harness racing at Maine’s Cumberland Raceway, with the action starting Friday afternoon (June 20) with ten races and continuing through Saturday (June 21) with a full card of lofty purses.

Friday’s $5,000 featured trot pits the outside-assigned Empereurthebest FR (3-1, Walter Case Jr.) against two inside contenders in Rose Run Xander (5-2, Benson Merrill) and Maplewood Slugger (3-1, John Nason). 

Jim Dunn’s Empereurthebest FR won his last two starts in Maine and retains the services of ‘Casey,’ who drove Rose Run Xander to victory last week for trainer Benson Merrill.  The French-bred 11-year-old veteran has four wins in eight seasonal starts with $347,354 earned lifetime.

In the ‘best bet’ category one would have to look very hard to find fault in Vel Miss Taylor (9-5, McGwire Sowers) who enters Friday’s $4,800 fillies and mares pace boasting a five race win streak.  The 5-year-old black daughter of Ponder has 10 wins in 14 seasonal outings and has been freshened up with a 3-week layoff.  Her only outwardly noticeable concern is post seven.

The second choice is Twin B High Tech (5-2, Aaron Hall), who is moving up in class but sports an impressive seven times first or second in nine starts this year.  The 5-year-old daughter of Lazarus N has the advantage of post two.

Racing continues on Saturday (June 21) with 10 races, including a full card of multiple legs of the various late closing series. 

The winner of the $12,500 Rockland series final, Dinner Party (2-1, Drew Campbell) will look to celebrate once again in his $7,500 leg of the Portland Pacing Series.  The 6-year-old son of American Ideal boasts five wins and $23,665 in earnings this year.

Heavensway A (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) leads the pack in the other $7,500 division of the Portland.  Fresh off of two wins, the 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven has to contend with post eight.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on both Friday and Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of 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.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

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.

June 15, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Not to be outshined by his fellow drivers, Drew Campbell orchestrated his own natural hat trick on Saturday (June 14) at Cumberland Raceway, with Kevin Switzer Jr. also picking up three wins of his own on the afternoon program.

Perhaps the fact that colleague Walter Case Jr. scored a natural hat trick on Friday, prompted Drew ‘Send ‘em’ Campbell to repeat the feat the very next day.

Campbell started the fracas in race six with a score behind Miki De Vie in 1:56.4, truly living up to his moniker via winning by 9-1/2 lengths.  Owned and trained by Michelle Lefebvre, the 5-year-old son of Always B Miki paid $2.60 to win a $5,000 division of the Bar Harbor Pacing Series.

In the next ‘Bar Harbor’ event Windemere Ryan was sent wire to wire in 1:56.3, winning by 5-1/2 lengths for Campbell, paying $4.80 in race seven.

His troika was set immediately thereafter with Skyway Ballet in the $6,000 ‘Moosehead’ which was another pillar to post romp.  Scoring in 2:01.4, the duo paid $2.40.

Perennial leading driver Kevin Switzer Jr. had a more balanced approach, scattering his victories throughout the card.  He won the second race with Baywood Shadow (2:01.3, $6.00); the fifth with Sheriff N (1:57.1, $4.40); and the ninth with Heavensway A (1:56.3, $13.80).  The last two were both trained by Zach Vickerson.

A pair of $11,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing fillies helped open the program with Ron Cushing (owner-driver) and Heidi Cushing (trainer) sweeping both divisions with Lysiun (2:00.3, $2.20) and Glorilla (2:02.3, $4.60).

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Racing resumes Friday (June 20) as First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet continues throughout the 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.

June 14, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Walter Case Jr. scored a natural hat trick on Friday (June 13) at Cumberland Raceway, including a victory with Rose Run Xander in the $5,000 featured conditioned trot.

‘Casey’ wasted little time moving the rangy 6-year-old son of Triumphant Caviar to the lead, springing from post five and grabbing the point in a :29 opening panel.  From that point the duo had things their own way, doubling their separation with the rest of the field at each and every stanza.

Following a :59.1 half while up by 2-1/2, Case and ‘Xander’ hit the third quarter in 1:28.1 and were now on top by four, and looking for more.  By the head of the stretch charter Andrew Topham listed the pacesetter as leading the pack by six lengths, and by the time they hit the wire in 1:59.4, they were officially listed as 8-1/4 length victors.

Owned by Stan Whittemore and trained by Benson Merrill, the clocking was a seasonal best for Rose Run Xander who now has 14 lifetime victories and a career bankroll of $149,328.  He paid $3.00 to win his second race of the year, and was the 1-2 heavy favorite.

Maplewood Slugger (John Nason) finished second; Dynamical Tad (Dave Ingraham) was third.

For Case, this was the middle score in his three-bagger on the afternoon.  He had previously won with Big Plan Stan (1:57.3, $3.00) for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr., and followed up the feature romp with a win aboard Sunny’s Rebel (2:01.3, $3.20), which was another training win for Benson Merrill.

Todd Whitney took sole command of second place in the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) series with his wire-to-wire steer of Rise N Grind in the $4,000 finale.  Leaving from post five Whitney hit the top and never looked back, tripping the timer in 1:55.4, which was the fastest MADC event in recent memory. 

A former national amateur driving champion, Whitney paid $4.00 with the 4-year-old son of Up The Credit, who is owned and trained by Dennis Whittemore. 

Aitnobetter (Jonathan Bresnahan) finished second; Rockaholic (Derek Howes) was third.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Racing continues on Saturday (June 14) with 10 races, including a pair of $11,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old pacing fillies, as well as eight individual legs of our lucrative Late Closing series.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on both Friday and Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of 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.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

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.

June 8, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Not unlike other tracks across the Northeast, horse racing continued under rain-soaked conditions on Saturday (June 7) with Drew Campbell winning both $12,500 Late Closing Series finals at Cumberland Raceway in Maine.

In the $12,500 Baxter Pacing Series Final fans witnessed Campbell ‘send ‘em’ with the 3-5 favorite The Big Aristotle from post four.  Assuming command nearly instantaneously, the 4-year-old son of Special Forces paced to the opening panel in :30.1 as Control The Piper (10-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) was parked out by the pacesetter past that marker and through the second turn.

As the field made its way to the 1:00.3 half, Campbell had The Big Aristotle well in command with Control The Piper still first over.  Beaches B Craycray (7-1, McGwire Sowers) was enjoying a pocket trip and Arts Flight (3-1, Aaron Hall) sat on the pegs fourth.  The rest of the participants were gapped out and trailing in groups with varying levels of ‘pace.’

Campbell and The Big Aristotle increased the tempo while heading to the 1:30.3 third stanza, with Control The Piper calling it quits and Art’s Flight moving first over to challenge for the lead.  Around the final turn Hall had Arts Flight at the leader’s throat latch and was looking for a mild upset.  However The Big Aristotle dug in gamely despite the muddy conditions and was not to be denied, winning by half a length in 2:02.3.

Trained by Benson Merrill for owner Robert Kluchevitz, it was the second win in a row and third of the season for The Big Aristotle, who paid $3.20 and increased his seasonal bankroll to $19,011.  Beaches B Craycray finished third.

The next race was the $12,500 Rockland Pacing Series final, and saw the 4-5 favorite Mr Beast (Sowers) push to the front en route to a snappy :30 opening split.  Down the backside the first time Valentino Of Leda (21-1, Bruce Ranger) got away second, Windemere Ryan (36-1, Mike Stevenson) sat third with 7-5 second choice Dinner Party (Campbell) fourth.

Heading to the much softer 1:01.1 half Dinner Party was flushed out first over as the pacesetting public choice was having difficulty with his footing and made an uncharacteristic miscue which unsettled some of the other participants. 

From that point Dinner Party needed no invitation to roll right on to the lead and left the rest of the bash in his wake as he put five lengths between him and the merrymaking catcher-uppers through a 1:30.3 third panel. 

Drew Campbell fed the 6-year-old son of American Ideal racetrack to splash home by six lengths, as only his brother Heath Campbell could see the back of his helmet as he left the gathering behind and urged Word Out (18-1) to be second best.

Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Mary Fernald, Dinner Party tripped the soggy timer in 2:03.2 and grabbed his second win in row, paying $4.80.  The score added substantial funds to his seasonal tab of five victories and $23,185.  Windemere Ryan finished third.

Speaking of Campbell brothers, Heath Campbell took the first division of the $5,000 second leg of the Moosehead Pacing Series with Excelant Chance (2:04.1, $33.00).  Drew Campbell grabbed the next two with Skyway Ballett (2:06, $2.60) and Whata Twist (2:09.3, $6.00).

Drew ‘send ‘em’ Campbell enjoyed a total of four wins on the program.  Heath Campbell and Kevin Switzer Jr. each reined a pair of winners.  McGwire Sowers is the leading driver of Cumberland’s nine week meet with 32 wins, thus far.  Drew Campbell (25), Nick Graffam (21), Kevin Switzer Jr. (16) and Aaron Hall (15) round out the top five.

Zach Vickerson enjoyed a training double, along with a driving win with his own Heavensway A in the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event.  Winning in 2:02.3, he paid $3.00.

Autym Robinson is the current meet’s leading conditioner with 21 trips to the winners circle, followed by Benson Merrill (18) and Andrew Harrington (12).

Replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Racing resumes on Friday (June 13) at Cumberland Raceway, and next Saturday (June 14) features the first legs of the Bar Harbor ($5,000) and Portland ($6,000) Pacing Series.  The purses increase by a thousand (or more) each week as they lead to the rich finals on June 28.  Next week also carries the third $6,000 leg of the Moosehead Pacing Series.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is always 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

June 7, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Leading driver McGwire Sowers won a handful of races on Friday (June 6) at Cumberland Raceway, including a score with heavy favorite Big Al M in the $5,000 featured trot from the far outside.

Leaving from his assigned post position eight, the 7-year-old son of Anders Bluestone left swiftly to gain position and dropped in the three hole after Pax Hanover (12-1, Andy Harrington) made a galloping break and pulled to the outside.  Rose Run Xander (5-1, Walter Case Jr.) took the field into a snappy :28.2 opening quarter, with Broadway Giant (22-1, Mike Stevenson) enjoying a two-hole trip.

Heading to the :59.2 softer half, Pax Hanover was back on stride and traveling first over and just a length off the lead.  Hot driver McGwire Sowers pulled the 1-9 public choice second over and tracked along in fourth with a several length gap back to the rest of the pack.

Past the paddock turn, Sowers drove Big Al M like he was the best, sending him three wide down the backside into a 1:29 third panel and was at the saddle pad of the leader as the field entered the final turn.  Despite Case’s rocking and urging, trying to keep Rose Run Xander on the lead, Sowers cruised right by in deep stretch to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths.

Trained and owned by Zach Vickerson, it was the trotter’s third win of the season, and a seasonal best clocking of 1:59.4.  He paid $2.20 to win, Top Down (39-1, Steve Wilson) finished third.

Currently the leading driver at Cumberland, the 25-year-old McGwire Sowers added the afternoon’s five victories to his lofty 32 win aggregate, also scoring with: Foxman (1:59.2, $4.40); Vel Straight Out (1:56.3, $3.40); Readyfortheladys (1:58.3, $2.20), and Head Of The Table (2:00.2, $4.00).  Two of the winners (Foxman & Vel Straight Out) were harnessed by McGwire’s mother Tammy Sowers, and a third score (Readyfortheladys) was trained by his partner Autym Robinson.

Racing continues on Saturday (June 7) with 10 races, including the $12,500 finals of the Baxter and Rockland Pacing Series. 

The Baxter final has 2-1 favorite The Big Aristotle (PP4, Drew Campbell) looking to outstep Beaches B Craycray (3-1, McGwire Sowers) who skims the pegs.  Arts Flight (9-2, Aaron Hall) also looks to make some noise coming off a win in the prelims last week.

The Rockland shows Mr Beast (2-1, Sowers) and Dinner Party (5-2, Campbell) as the horses to beat in the start of the Pick 3.

Saturday’s program also includes three $5,000 divisions of the second leg of our Moosehead Series Late Closers.  There will be wagering available on the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, the third and final jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown.  Doors open at 12 noon for the flats action, and printed programs are also available for the runners.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on both Friday and Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of 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 conclude with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

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.

June 6, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo: BIG AL M)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The $12,500 finals of the Rockland and Baxter Pacing Series highlight Belmont Stakes weekend at Cumberland Raceway, with the action starting Friday (June 6) with ten races and continuing through Saturday (June 7) with a full card of lofty purses.

Friday’s $5,000 featured trot pits the outside-assigned Big Al M (8-5, McGwire Sowers) against two inside contenders in Rose Run Xander (7-2, Walter Case Jr.) and Pax Hanover (6-1, Pax Hanover).  Big Al M shows a win against similar company a few weeks ago with his conditioner Zach Vickerson in the sulky.  Now he gets the services of top gun Sowers in the bike, albeit from post eight.  The 8-year-old son of Anders Bluestone has two wins in six seasonal outings and has earned $8,620 so far this year.

Friday’s card all carries fan favorite Gowestyounggrace (5-2, Dave Ingraham) who has been 1-2-3 in her last three starts for trainer, owner and co-breeder Sharon Ward.  Last year’s top Maine Sire Stakes sophomore pacing filly scores from post five and looks to add to her impressive $211,605 career bankroll.  She will have to catch Vel Straight Out (2-1, Sowers) who comes in from Saratoga against tougher company and drew pylon position in race three.

Racing continues on Saturday (June 7) with 10 races, including the $12,500 finals of the Baxter and Rockland Pacing Series. 

The Baxter final has 2-1 favorite The Big Aristotle (PP4, Drew Campbell) looking to outstep Beaches B Craycray (3-1, McGwire Sowers) who skims the pegs.  Arts Flight (9-2, Aaron Hall) also looks to make some noise coming off a win in the prelims last week.

The Rockland shows Mr Beast (2-1, Sowers) and Dinner Party (5-2, Campbell) as the horses to beat in the start of the Pick 3.

Saturday’s program also includes three $5,000 divisions of the second leg of our Moosehead Series Late Closers.  There will be wagering available on the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, the third and final jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown.  Doors open at 12 noon for the flats action, and printed programs are also available for the runners.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on both Friday and Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 10 races, and the program also features a plethora of 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 conclude with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

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.

June 1, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Cumberland Raceway fans were reminded that age is only a number on Saturday (May 31) as 87-year-old Bob Nadeau made his way to the winners circle once again at the iconic Southern Maine oval.

Nadeau, driving his own mare Azariya, left little to chance as he left swiftly in the opener.  Grabbing the lead in a $4,000 leg of the Moosehead Pacing Series, the 5-year-old daughter of Lazarus N set opening fractions of :29.3 and 1:01.3.

Down the backstretch and heading to the three-quarter pole CBF Bantam (2-1, Bruce Ranger) had pulled the pocket and was challenging for the lead, poking a head in front for a brief spell.  Following a 1:31 third panel, Nadeau summoned his mare’s second gear and she responded with a closing kick to add a few lengths of separation between the pair and the rest of the field.

Down the lane, everyone’s favorite Octogenarian urged his mare to keep rolling as she hit the timer in 2:02.3, scoring by two lengths.  Also owned and trained by Nadeau the mare paid $5.80 to win.

Bob Nadeau has been driving horses since the mid-1970’s and has captured 171 victories in six decades of participation.  Last year Nadeau had 6 wins in 28 starts and enjoyed a 0.238 UDRS, primarily while campaigning fan favorite Putnams Storm and Azariya.

A concrete salesman by trade, he told this scribe that he still does 20 pull ups every day, reminding us all that you are only as old as you feel.

Hunter Lofthus won another $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event, scoring with Benson Merrill’s Art of Endurance in 2:02.4.  They paid $2.60 to win.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The trio of $6,500 co-featured Baxter Pacing Series were captured by: Control The Piper (2:01, $4.20), Arts Flight (2:00.3, $2.20), and The Big Aristotle (1:58, $8.80).

Rockland Pacing Series legs at $6,000 each were won by: Mr Beast (1:58.2, $5.60), Dinner Party (1:58.2, $3.00), and Valentino Of Leda (1:59.3, $8.00). 

Both the Baxter and the Rockland series enjoy $12,500 finals next Saturday (June 7).

Drivers Drew Campbell and McGwire Sowers both had three trips each to the winners circle, as did trainer Benson Merrill.  Sowers leads all drivers during the Spring-Summer meet with 27 wins, followed by Drew Campbell and Nick Graffam with 21 apiece. Autym Robinson is the leading trainer with 20 wins, followed by Merrill (16) and Andrew Harrington (12).

Replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

Racing resumes on Friday (June 6) at Cumberland.

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 31, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The sharp mare Vel Miss Taylor had things her own way on Friday (May 30) at Cumberland Raceway, holding off a handful of challengers and securing her fifth straight score.

Leaving from post four the 4-year-old daughter of Ponder was stung to the first quarter in :28 by Cash Crazy Express (14-1, Shawn Thayer).  From there driver McGwire Sowers was able to control the tempo more to his mare’s liking.  While enjoying a :59 half-mile mark breather, the outer flow started to materialize with Maggie At Bat (6-5, Aaron Hall) first over and pushing the pacesetter to a swifter 1:27.4 third panel.

Around the final turn Gowestyounggrace (4-1, Dave Ingraham) shot three wide from sixth to march toward the wire with the pack.  A tight group of four horses engulfed the leader in the lane.  They tried valiantly to snap Vel Miss Taylor’s streak, however, the mare dug in gamely and outlasted her foes to grab victory from the jaws of defeat.  She prevailed by a neck in 1:57.3, a new seasonal best.

Trained by Autym Robinson she is owned and was co-bred by Mo Coo Inc.  This was the mare’s tenth seasonal victory and fifth in a row, increasing her career bankroll to $108,974 with 27 wins.  She paid $4.60 as the 6-5 co-favorite in the $5,000 conditioned fillies and mares pace.

The other co-favorite, Maggie At Bat finished in a dead heat for place with Gowestyounggrace.

Former Maine champion Two Fold Cold grabbed Friday’s featured $5,500 eighth race pace in a seasonal best 1:56, scoring from off the pace for driver Dave Ingraham.  The 4-year-old son of Deuce Seelster is trained by Kelly Case for owner Marc Tardif and picked up his second win of the year while increasing his lifetime earnings to $191,376.  He paid $5.20 to win.

Beyond The Past (8-1, Steve Wilson) finished second; Forrest Blu (20-1, Aaron Hall) was third.

‘Double Digit’ Dave Ingraham enjoyed four wins on the program, including a score with 16-1 longshot Dynamical Tad in the tenth, paying $35.00 to win.  Trainer Kelly Case, Dave’s wife, helped to add to that total with Marc Tardif’s Deal With It Roman in 1:57.4, paying $9.40.

Racing continues on Saturday (May 31) with 11 races, ten of which are divisions of our Spring Pacing Series Late Closers.  There are three divisions of both the $6,500 ‘Baxter,’ and the $6,000 ‘Rockland’ which boast $12,500 finals next week on Saturday (June 7).  In addition, there are four $4,000 divisions of the ‘Moosehead’ which has a thousand dollar purse bump every week for the next three weeks, culminating with a $12,500 final on June 28.

Hunter Lofthus is back to defend his leader board status in this week’s $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event slated as race two.  Lofthus drives Art Of Endurance from pylon position for trainer Benson Merrill and has been pegged as the 2-1 choice. 

With a new twist this week, horse trainer and family patriarch Philip ‘Bo’ Sowers tries his hand at driving in the amateur ranks with his wife Tammy’s 15 year-old old Machtu N.  Fans may recall that their son McGwire won the $6,000 Au Revoir with the elder son of Mach Three on the final days of the 2024 Cumberland meet. The veteran campaigner amassed $534,637 in career earnings with 65 victories.

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

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Saturday, with a Trifecta in all 11 races, and the program also features a plethora of 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 conclude with our High-Five Pentafecta ($544.51 carryover) in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

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.