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.

May 30, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Vel Miss Taylor puts her four-race winning streak on the line against a host of the state’s faster femme fatales in Friday’s (May 30) $5,000 sixth race for pacing fillies and mares at Cumberland Raceway.  

Hailing from the powerful Autym Robinson stable and driven by McGwire Sowers, the 5-year-old black daughter of Ponder has not seen the back of a helmet since late April.  Scoring from post four, she is listed as the 2-1 early morning line favorite.  With nine wins in 13 seasonal starts, the successful lass has added $24,791 this season to her career bankroll of $106,474.

The second choice is Maggie At Bat (3-1, Aaron Hall) who has been a close second to Vel Miss Taylor on several occasions.  Leaving from pylon position is Cash Crazy Express (5-1, Shawn Thayer) who has been hit the board in four of her five seasonal outings.

Friday’s card also features the $5,500 eighth race pace headed by Two Fold Cold (5-2, Dave Ingraham, PP 2) who is always a threat when he behaves himself.  Last year he was the undefeated Maine Sire Stakes champion sophomore male pacer.  This season he has a win and a second place finish in five starts. 

Speaking of Maine Sire Stakes champions, Call Me Maverick (7-2, Mike Stevenson) is back in action for trainer Alison Hynes and finished second last week in his second start of the season.  He leaves from post five in this skirmish of former Pine Tree State pacing stars.  Time For George (4-1, Walter Case Jr.) has won his last two in a row and will also look to shake things up a bit from post three.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday, 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 has a $593.80 carryover.  The opportunities continue 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.

Saturday’s (May 31) card also carries 11 events, 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. 

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.

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 38^th 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.

May 24, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Walter Case Jr. enjoyed a grand slam of victories on Friday (May 23) at Cumberland Raceway, which included a score in the $5,500 featured trot with Empereurthebest FR.

The muddy going did not deter the winner of 11,501 races from making the best of the off track, where the judges listed a four second allowance.

Case sprung from the gate from post two and set a snappy :30.1 opening panel to take command in the top trot, and kept the French-bred gelding on point through a softer 1:03.2 half.  The outer flow began down the backstretch with Pembroke Honcho (17-1, Heath Campbell) flushing the cover of 39-1 longshot Valyrian Steel and Dave Ingraham. 

While the pack was chasing the leader into the 1:35.3 third quarter the 1-2 favorite Big Al M (Zach Vickerson) found himself third over and trying to get into the mix. Around the final turn the pressure began to mount upon the leader.  Case then loosened his grip ever so slightly and Empereurthebest FR responded with a closing kick, drawing away from the field to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 2:07.

Trained by James Dunn for owner Stanley Bubier Jr., it was the third win of the season for the 11-year-old son of Un Amour D’haufor, which raised his lifetime bankroll to $344,604.  He paid $6.60 to win.

Inquiring Mind (Steve Wilson) finished second; Pembroke Honcho was third.

Walter Case Jr., the 9^th leading driver on the all-time dash winning list among active drivers, also scored with: Rose Run Xander (2:06.1, $9.60), Royalty Again (2:02.3, $22.60), and Beach Director (2:06.2, $6.60). The latter pair were trained by Randy Bickmore, giving Case a total of four driving wins on the soggy afternoon.

Speaking of four, McGwire Sowers steered Vel Miss Taylor to her fourth victory in a row, in a wire to wire romp in 2:03.1.  The 5-year-old daughter of Ponder is trained by Autym Robinson for Mo Coo Inc., and paid $6.80.

Andrew Harrington (also the trainer) and Steve Wilson enjoyed a pair of victories on the program.

Looking ahead, Saturday’s (May 24) card carries 11 events with the popular $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event slated as race four.  Zach Vickorson drives the 9-5 favorite Dark Matter from post two, followed by second choice Ten Beaches Later (3-1) with Hunter Lofthus who is the current point leader in the series.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

In the $5,500 featured eighth race conditioned pace, the powerful Autym Robinson stable sends out Hypnoticdream (2-1, McGwire Sowers) from post four.  The 8-year-old son of Hypnotic Blue Chip emigrates from the Bay State and should be the one to beat in here.  His primary threat will come in the form of Gabe Hanover (5-2, Walter Case Jr.) who took a 1:51.3f record last season, and is still looking to break into the win column this year.

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.

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

CUMBERLAND, ME – Over the last six weeks Cumberland Raceway has enjoyed brisk participation on both the racetrack and at the windows on Fridays, and this week is no exception.  The upcoming program has five of eleven races dedicated to the diagonal gate.  With Memorial Day weekend the unofficial start of summer, both the Friday (May 23) and Saturday (May 24) cards will show that charcoal grills won’t be the only things getting fired up!

A sure sign of summer is the return of the training-driving team of Valerie Grondin and Heath Campbell.  Back from their Bell, Florida enclave, and following a few outings down the Turnpike, the Pine Tree State stalwarts bring last season’s Maine Sire Stakes sophomore trotting filly champion Pembroke Breeze to Cumberland for a confidence builder. 

The 4-year-old daughter of Pembroke Slugger takes on a slew of older geldings in the $4,800 fourth race conditioned trot, and is listed as the 2-1 early morning line favorite.  With 8 wins in 11 starts last year and over $114,000 earned, the talented distaff is sure to cause some gusty winds at the windows.  She is now owned by Brenda Varney, and was bred in Maine by the late industry leader Bill Varney.

Friday’s card also features the $5,500 fifth race conditioned trot with Empereurthebest FR (2-1, Walter Case Jr.) looking for a softer landing after chasing tougher company at Plainridge.  Trained by James Dunn, the French-bred trotter made it look easy winning in 2:00 flat from post seven last month.  The 5-2 second choice on the morning line is Big Al M (Zach Vickerson) who was parked the last half and still won his last start.  The 9-2 third choice is Inquiring Mind (Steve Wilson) who moves up in class after a decisive victory last week.

In the $4,800 tenth race mare pace, Vel Miss Taylor (8-5, McGwire Sowers) puts her three-race winning streak on the line against fan favorite and former Maine Sire Stakes champion Gowestyounggrace (5-2, Dave Ingraham) who is also coming off a victory.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday, with a Trifecta in every race and also 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 24) card also carries 11 events with the popular $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event slated as race four.  Zach Vickorson drives the 9-5 favorite Dark Matter from post two, followed by second choice Ten Beaches Later (3-1) with Hunter Lofthus who is the current point leader in the series.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

In the $5,500 featured eighth race conditioned pace, the powerful Autym Robinson stable sends out Hypnoticdream (2-1, McGwire Sowers) from post four.  The 8-year-old son of Hypnotic Blue Chip emigrates from the Bay State and should be the one to beat in here.  His primary threat will come in the form of Gabe Hanover (5-2, Walter Case Jr.) who took a 1:51.3f record last season, and is still looking to break into the win column this year.

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.

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 18, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Beyond The Past was much the best in the $5,500 featured pace at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (May 17), showing his heels to the field in an effortless score.

Driven by perennial leading reinsman Bruce Ranger, the 6-year-old son of JK Endofanera had pylon position from the start and never once saw the back of helmet during the rest of the winning performance.  Setting opening fractions of :28.3 and :58.2, the victor had Dinner Party (7-1, Drew Campbell) at his back through both circuits.

After reaching the third panel in 1:27 Ranger let out a notch and started to gain some separation with Beyond The Past as the pair moved swiftly away from the field and tripped the timer in 1:55.4.  The win established a new seasonal mark, with the margin of victory listed as three lengths.

Trained by Bob Marston for owner John DiAntonio Jr., it was Beyond The Past’s second victory in his last three starts, and 15^th of his career.  The score brought his lifetime bankroll up to $137,918, and he paid a nice $11.80 for the triumph.

Dinner Party tracked along to be second; Sixfingerfreddie (13-1, McGwire Sowers) was third.

Another swift, upper class event witnessed Axion Hanover score by a neck in the $4,800 conditioned pace for driver Drew Campbell in 1:57.2.  Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, the 6-year-old son of Betting Line paid $11.40 to win.  Favorite Always At My Place (6-5, Zach Vickerson) finished second.

Hunter Lofthus returned to his winning ways taking this week’s Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event with Maximus in 1:59.2.  The $4,000 purse attracted a full field, but they were no match for the Benson Merrill-trained 9-year-old son of Sportsmaster as he was parked for the entire first lap from post eight and drew off to win by 2-1/2 lengths.  They paid $10.00 for the victory.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

There was another ‘triple double’ on the afternoon program, with drivers Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. each enjoying a hat trick.  Trainers Benson Merrill and Bob Marston both harnessed a pair of winners.  After 12 cards of the spring meeting at Cumberland, the leading driver is McGwire Sowers with 21 wins, followed by Nick Graffam (18), Drew Campbell (16), Bruce Ranger (12) and Kevin Switzer Jr. (11).  The top conditioner is Autym Robinson with 17 wins, followed by Benson Merrill (11) and Andy Harrington (9).

Racing reconvenes at Cumberland on Friday (May 23) at 3:15 pm.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland will be offering horsemen several lucrative late closing series to choose from, most with $12,500 finals, throughout the month of June.  More information 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.

May 17, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Gowestyounggrace, last season’s Maine Sire Stakes champion sophomore pacing filly, returned to her winning ways at Cumberland Raceway on Friday (May 16), showing her fans and connections that she still loves to race.

When the wings folded under sunny skies there was a mad dash for the top between Cash Crazy Express (4-1, Drew Campbell) and Oceanview Echo (15-1, Bruce Ranger), who ultimately took command in a swift :28 seconds flat.

With the $5,000 Fillies and Mares conditioned pacers stretched out considerably down the backside the outer flow was forced to develop going into a softer :58.1 half mile marker.  Miss Trixtster (3-1, Nick Graffam) was the first in line, followed by Maggie At Bat (2-1, Aaron Hall) and Gowestyounggrace (8-5, Dave Ingraham) in fifth, and third over, back 5-3/4 lengths.

Down the backstretch for the final time the field was stacked up into a fast 1:26.4 third stanza, with Gowestyounggrace poised to pounce three deep.  With a sling shot move off the final turn, and gaining ground with every stride, Ingraham had the 4-year-old daughter of Western Maverick blazing a path to the wire down the center of the racetrack.

Gowestyounggrace caught the new leaders and prevailed by three parts of a length in 1:57.2.  Owned, trained and bred by Sharon Ward (with Fred Ward Jr.), it was the mare’s first win of the season, in just her second outing.  She paid $5.40 to win, and now has $210,104 in career earnings with 18 victories.

Maggie At Bat finished second; Miss Trixster was third.

The featured $5,500 conditioned trot was captured by Big Al M in 2:00.2 for owner, trainer, driver Zach Vickerson, in a grinding first over trip.  Parked the entire last half, it was his second win in his last three starts, paying just $2.80 as the heavy favorite.  The 7-year-old son of Anders Bluestone now has 24 lifetime wins with $479,415 in earnings.

McStoned Again (5-2, McGwire Sowers) finished second; J S Peyton (7-1,Ranger) who cut the mile, hung on for third.

There was a ‘triple double’ on the afternoon program, with driver Nick Graffam winning two races for trainer Jamie Gerard; McGwire Sowers grabbed a pair harnessed by Autym Robinson; and Dave Ingraham also won the opener with Kelly Case’s Mr Apples 3-year-old Greysons Pacin.

Racing continues on Saturday (May 17) 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. 

Saturday’s (May 17) card also carries 11 events, and every race has a full eight horse field.  The opener hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event, and the $4,000 purse attracted some new participants.  The favorite, Hoosier Shark (2-1, Todd Whitney) scores from pylon position and should be tough from that spot.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The state’s better pacers meet in the $5,500 eighth race conditioned pace.  Last week’s winner and former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (2-1, Dave Ingraham) will be the one to beat in this battle of the big guns.  Another former Maine standout, Call Me Maverick (7-1, Mike Stevenson) takes his seasonal bow for trainer Alison Hynes of the Gordon Corey Institute of Equine Erudition.

Wagering on the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown, will be available at Cumberland on Saturday.  Doors open at 12 noon for the simulcast from Pimlico in Baltimore, MD.  Printed programs are also available for the flats track races.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland will be offering horsemen several lucrative late closing series to choose from, most with $12,500 finals, throughout the month of June.  More information 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.

May 15, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – With Cumberland Raceway the only track in the Pine Tree State that is racing this week, both the Friday (May 16) and Saturday (May 17) cards at the iconic Southern Maine oval are chock full of opportunity. 

Friday’s card boasts 11 races, all with either 7 or 8 horse fields.  The $5,500 feature is the eighth race conditioned trot with last week’s victor, McStoned Again (3-1, McGwire Sowers) looking to capitalize on his inside position.  The slight 5-2 morning line favorite is Big Al M who had a win against a similar group two starts ago and looks to mirror that performance with his owner-trainer Zach Vickerson at the controls.  The 7-2 third choice is J S Peyton (Bruce Ranger) who puts his two-race winning streak on the line in the start of the Pick 4.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday, with a Trifecta in every race and also 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 17) card also carries 11 events, and every race has a full eight horse field.  The opener hosts the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event, and the $4,000 purse attracted some new participants.  The favorite, Hoosier Shark (2-1, Todd Whitney) scores from pylon position and should be tough from that spot.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The state’s better pacers meet in the $5,500 eighth race conditioned pace.  Last week’s winner and former Maine champion Two Fold Cold (2-1, Dave Ingraham) will be the one to beat in this battle of the big guns.  Another former Maine standout, Call Me Maverick (7-1, Mike Stevenson) takes his seasonal bow for trainer Alison Hynes of the Gordon Corey Institute of Equine Erudition.

Wagering on the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown, will be available at Cumberland on Saturday.  Doors open at 12 noon for the simulcast from Pimlico in Baltimore, MD.  Printed programs are also available for the flats track races.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland will be offering horsemen several lucrative late closing series to choose from, most with $12,500 finals, throughout the month of June.  More information 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.

May 11, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – As the Pine Tree State’s horse people prepare for the start of the Maine Sire Stakes in a few weeks, a pair of the lucrative program’s graduates added to their respective bankrolls on Saturday (May 10) at Cumberland Raceway.

Perhaps last season’s best known pacer was Two Fold Cold who dominated his 3-year-old colt division with an impressive 12 for 12 seasonal tally.  Trained and owned by Marc Tardif during his unblemished campaign, the son of Deuce Seelster earned $140,772 and took a mark of 1:55.2 on the historic Bass Park half-mile oval.

Tardif has retained ownership, however his industrious taskforce is concentrating on babies so he sent the now-4-year-old gelding up north with Kelly Case.  Improving with every start, Two Fold Cold got his first seasonal victory after being parked to the quarter in :29.1 and powered through the middle splits of :59 and 1:27 before blasting home a winner in 1:57.4 in the $5,500 featured pace.

Driven by Dave Ingraham to a 1-1/2 length victory, Two Fold Cold was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall and paid $4.20.

Kount Blaster (Wally Watson) finished second; Heavensway A (Zach Vickerson) was third.

Another Tardif protégé that had the misfortune of racing against Two Fold Cold last season is Arts Flight.  The now-4-year-old son of Artistic Fella did hold his own last year at three, and hit the board in 12 of 15 starts while earning $67,399.

Driven by Aaron Hall, and despite being saddled with the outermost post seven, the swift sidestepper left powerfully and assumed command through an opening fraction of :29.1.  His command was short lived as Arts Flight yielded to the 6-5 favorite Mornin Captain and Walter Case Jr. who clearly had a ton of pace. 

Approaching the 1:01.3 half in the off-going On Line (2-1, Jason Bertolini) pulled first over, with Salute America (25-1 Kevin Switzer Jr.) grabbing that cover second over.

Mornin Captain took the field through the 1:30.3 third panel with Arts Flight locked in the box right behind him. The battle ensued around the turn and into the home stretch where the first over On Line stalled which gave Arts Flight room to come off the pegs and challenge the leader.

Track announcer Scott Ehrlich exclaimed, “In deep stretch, here comes Arts Flight…too close to call.”

Back in the sport’s heyday, the judges would have been forced to call for a ‘print’ of the photo finish, however, due to advances in technology the racing officials were able to quickly determine that Arts Flight prevailed by a nose over Mornin Captain.  Greysons Pacin (Dave Ingraham) was third.

Trained by Andrew Harrington for owner Mac Stables, it was the second win in a row for Arts Flight, who was bred by one of Maine’s leading breeders Lynn-Marie Plouffe.  He paid $9.60 for the 2:01.1 triumph, where the judges allowed 3 seconds due to track conditions.

Hunter Lofthus returned to his winning ways in the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event in race two, scoring with Benson Merrill’s Ten Beaches Later in 2:03.4. 

Coming from off the pace to win in dominant fashion, bettors must have forgotten the reinsman’s prowess in last season’s series and sent him off at 13-1.  The duo paid $28.40 for the score.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.  Todd Whitney drives the favorite Hoosier Shark from post four.

Driver Zach Vickerson grabbed a driving double, one of which he also trained. 

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (May 16).

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet continues throughout the Spring and 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.