Switzer slams, Case triples at Cumberland

December 4, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Kevin Switzer Jr. won four and Walter Case Jr. won three races, including the feature, giving the veteran reinsmen over half of the victories on Sunday’s (Dec. 3) soggy twelve race card.

Case got busy immediately winning the second race with Cinco Senorita from post seven. Parked out the last half, the 5-year-old Pet Rock mare scored in 2:01 and paid $6.20 for trainer McKenzie Sowers and owner Marianna Monaco.

Trainer McKenzie Sowers sent out another winner with Walter Case Jr. driving in race four. Jumpshot jumped right out for the lead from post four and never looked back. Tripping the timer in 2:02.2, the 7-year-old son of E L Titan paid $5.00 for owner Room4040 LLC Stables.

Kevin Switzer Jr. got things rolling in race seven, coming from off the pace with Pembroke Booboo in 2:05.1. The 4-year-old daughter of Pembroke Slugger paid $12.20 to win for owner-trainer Jason Leal.

Switzer came right back in race eight to score with Martaritaondarocks in 2:02.2 for owner-trainer Cain MacKenzie. The 4-year-old Pet Rock mare paid $4.00.

In the $6,500 ninth race winners over trot, Walter Case Jr. was three wide down the backside with Ice Breakers K and grabbed the feature in 2:00.3 by a quarter of a length, getting up in the final strides for the victory. It was also the third win of the day for trainer McKenzie Sowers. The 4-year-old son of Winning Mister is owned by Room4040 LLC Stables, and picked up his fifth win of the year.

Kevin Switzer Jr. came back to win the final two races on the card with Foxy Trottin Stick (2:04.3, $11.80) and Whatchagonnadoboo (2:00.4, $8.00), giving the top driver four wins on the afternoon card.

There was a $453.29 carryover in the finale’s High Five Pentafecta, which will be added to Friday’s (Dec. 8) pool.

Bruce Ranger leads all drivers at Cumberland with 67 victories this year. Switzer Jr. follows with 61 victories, then Drew Campbell (51), Nick Graffam (49), and Aaron Hall (48) round out the top five.

Todd Whitney won the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event with Patanjali N in 2:01.4. Owned and trained by Michelle Lefebvre, the 10-year-old mare by American Ideal picked up her seventh win of the season and paid $4.80 to win. The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Horsemen are reminded that Cumberland’s Winter Late Closing Series starts next week, with the potential for over $150,000 in purses being offered. For more information, please go to: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/horsemen/

In addition, the last day to enter a horse in the Au Revoir Retirement Ceremony is Wednesday (Dec. 6), also sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds. For more information contact Chris Tully.

Racing at Cumberland resumes on Friday (Dec. 8) and continues with our regular three-day weekend schedule, Fridays through Sundays, up until Christmas Eve. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Lexus Witha View grabs Cumberland feature

December 3, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Lexus Witha View A jumped up in the final strides to capture the $6,500 winners over feature at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Dec. 2), winning by a nose over betting favorite The Bird Dance N.

With half of the field tracing their origins to ‘Down Under’ the well-traveled group of top pacers made for an exciting race with the winner hanging in the balance until the very last moment.

At the start, driver Dan Deslandes put local fire engine The Bird Dance N right where he likes to be…on the front end. The 7-5 favorite was on the muscle at the :27.3 opening panel, with Ranaldi (Kevin Switzer Jr.) grabbing the garden spot and Dontbothermenone N (Ron Cushing) riding shotgun first over from post eight.

Going to the :57.2 half-mile marker the tempo had eased momentarily, allowing the outer flow to build with Bush Man N (Bruce Ranger) now second over and Lexus Witha View A (Nick Graffam) locked in the box fourth.

As the field dashed down the backstretch for the final time, Dontbothermenone N was stalling forcing Bush Man N three wide. The Bird Dance N accelerated into a 1:27.1 third panel and gained some separation on the rest of the pack. That was all the daylight that Graffam needed with 9-1 longshot Lexus Witha View A as he tipped out of the three-hole and was now charging first over around the final turn.

Down the stretch the leader was being tracked down with every stride, with the pursuer eliminating his 3-1/2 length head of the stretch deficit to a mere whisker. Lexus Witha View A scored in 1:57.1, getting up by a nose in the final stride over The Bird Dance N. Ranaldi hung on for third.

Trained and co-owned by Jamie Gerard with Strategic Racing Stable, the 9-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere paid $20.40 to win. It was the second win in a row for Lexus Witha View A, who now has six wins with $54,258 earned this season.

Graffam had a driving hat trick on the twelve-race card, with Drew Campbell and Aaron Hall each grabbing doubles.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for the Sunday (Dec. 3) program with another dozen races on the card. First post is 11 am.

Racing at Cumberland continues three days each week, Friday through Sunday, up until Christmas Eve. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Airspinder takes flight at Cumberland

December 2, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – They couldn’t catch local favorite Airspinder as driver Wally Watson guided the $4,800 feature winner to a wire-to-wire victory at Cumberland on Friday (Dec. 1).

Scoring from post three, Watson fed the 7-year-old son of No Spin Zone plenty of racetrack when the wings folded, while being pushed to a swift :28.2 opening panel, with Reys N A Ruckus (Dan Deslandes) ultimately conceding and ducking into the two-hold.

The first to move was the sophomore pacer So Rock N’ Roll (Kevin Switzer Jr.) who helped urge the pack to the :58.4 half-mile marker. As the field straightened out down the backside So Rock N’ Roll looked the 8-5 favorite Airspinder right in the eye, with 21-1 longshot Jaxson R Brown (Nick Graffam) poised to pounce second over at the 1:27.2 third stanza.

Announcer Mike Cushing exclaimed “Airspinder is a tough horse to pass” as Watson urged his charge through the turn, thwarting the advances of So Rock N’ Roll. With the latter horse fading, Jaxson R Browne made his thrust for the wire, but could not catch the victorious Airspinder.

Tripping the timer in 1:57.1, Airspinder prevailed by three parts of a length and paid $5.40 to win his seventh race of the year. Earning $31,058 this season, he is owned and trained by David Sawyer. Jaxson R Browne finished second; So Rock N’ Roll hung on to be third.

Both Bruce Ranger and Dan Deslandes enjoyed driving doubles on the nine race card, and conditioner Benson Merrill harnessed a pair of winners: Southwind Terror (2:00.2; $6.40) and Ultimate Flyer N (1:59.2; $10.00).

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for the Saturday (Dec. 2) and Sunday (Dec. 3) programs, with a dozen races each day. There is a $710.75 carryover in the High-5 Pentafecta in Saturday’s finale. First post is 11 am.

Racing at Cumberland continues three days each week through Christmas Eve, 2023. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Last Call for Au Revoir; Three-day weekend at Cumberland

November 30, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – For the third season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 23. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or have retired within the last four years, and have Maine connections.

Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program. Equine honorees must be present to participate. This shall serve as the tracks ‘last call’ for entries. Trainers or owners must ‘declare’ their horse by Dec. 6. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: [email protected].

First Tracks Cumberland has transitioned to a three-day weekend of racing, adding the Friday (Dec. 1) card, which compliments the Saturday (Dec. 2) and Sunday (Dec. 3) programs. A total of 33 races will go postward over the three-day span. First post, 11 am.

Racing at Cumberland continues three days each week through Christmas Eve, 2023. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/ Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland

Broadway Giant thunders to third in a row at Cumberland

November 27, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Apex trotter Broadway Giant made his third appearance in the First Tracks Cumberland winners circle in as many weeks, taking Maine’s top $5,500 conditioned trot once again on Sunday (Nov. 26) by open lengths.

Driven by veteran reinsman Bruce Ranger, the 9-year-old son of Broadway Hall coasted to the top from post six and never looked back, scoring untested in 2:01.2. Owned and trained by Ron Patoine, it was his ninth victory of the season and fifth win in his last six starts. Winning by 3-3/4 lengths, he paid $4.40 as the wagering favorite and increased his yearly earnings to $30,660.

Osprey Delta (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Mister Muscle (Aaron Hall) was third.

This season’s fourth leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) witnessed owner-trainer-driver Jason Bertolini pick up his fifth win of the year with his trusty Led Schneppelin. While waiting patiently to pounce from mid-pack, the 12-year-old son of Memphis Flash won by a head in 2:02.1 while closing swiftly to catch the tiring leaders. The pair paid $11.20 to win.

American Fighter (Dalton Lee) finished second; Causway (McKenzie Sowers) was third.

The MADC series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.

Nick Graffam and Aaron Hall each enjoyed driving doubles on the thirteen race card.

Cumberland transitions to three days of live harness racing each week beginning this Friday (Dec. 1) and continuing through Christmas Eve Sunday (Dec. 24). The draw for Friday is Tuesday (Nov. 28), with a double draw of Wednesday (Nov. 29) for Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 2 & 3).

For the third season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 23. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or retired and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program. Equine honorees must be present to participate and must ‘declare’ by Dec. 6. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: [email protected].

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Top Pacers to battle at Cumberland

November 25, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Before the so-called “Race of the Year” with likely Horse of the Year Confederate facing older foes at the Meadowlands in tonight’s $350,000 FanDuel Championship, Cumberland will host what could be described as Maine’s Thanksgiving Tussle as some of the best pacers in New England go head-to-head in the $6,500 Winners Over Pace on Saturday (Nov. 25).

Assigned the six and seven post positions respectively, Nineteenth Man A (2-1, Ron Cushing) and The Bird Dance N (5-1, Dan Deslandes) highlight a field of sharp sidesteppers in the holiday weekend’s featured event. Nineteenth Man A has six wins on his card this season, and earnings of $58,856. The 5-year-son of Captaintreachersous is in good form and is coming off a win at Plainridge. He is trained by Heidi Cushing.

The Bird Dance is looking for his tenth win of the year while earning $60,241, and has won some of the signature events at both Maine pari-mutuel tracks, including the $25,000 Fred Nichols at Bangor and the $10,000 Bruce Ranger Open at Cumberland. The 8-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance is trained by Karl Butterfield.

The field also contains De Chirico (Drew Campbell) and former track record holder Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham), making this a strong set of upper echelon performers. Carded as the eighth race, first post for Saturday’s (Nov. 25) twelve race card is 11 am.

The following day on Sunday’s (Nov. 26) program the top trotters meet in the $5,500 conditioned feature. Broadway Giant (2-1, Bruce Ranger) will look to keep his winning streak alive from post six. Winning his last four out of five with two in a row, the 9-year-old son of Broadway Hall is trained by Ron Patoine. He will have to contend with Mister Muscle (7-2, Aaron Hall) who scores from pylon position for trainer Jamie Gerard.

Sunday’s card also features the fourth $4,400 leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), with last week’s victor Martaritaondarocks (2-1, Cain MacKenzie) assigned post eight. The MADC series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.

A total of 25 races will be offered over the Saturday and Sunday cards, all with full fields. Wagering options include our Pick 5 starting with the third race; the Pick 4 highlights the ninth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale.

First Tracks Cumberland in Maine will transition to three days of harness racing each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Hall takes both trots at Cumberland Sunday

November 20, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Aaron Hall grabbed both trotting race features at Cumberland on Sunday (Nov. 19), one for his dad Craig Hall and the other from his own stable.

Hall began his victorious afternoon in the $4,400 fourth race sending his own charge Namesmuscle out to secure the lead from his pylon-based starting position. From that point it was a convincing tour of the Southern Maine circuit as the 11-year-old son of Muscle Mass got every call, setting fractions of :30, 1:00.4, 1:31 while maintaining a length or so margin on his disciples.

When the 3-year-old Wariner (Walter Case Jr.) moved first over and challenged for the lead at the head of the stretch, Hall gave Namesmuscle his cue and strolled home a winner in 2:01.4. Scoring by three lengths, the odds-on favorite payed $3.20 to win for owner Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps.

Richsnortherndream (Bruce Ranger) finished third.

Two races later Hall came right back with another wire-to-wire rout while driving his dad’s Matt So Sure to a 2:02.1 seasonal mark-equaling triumph.

Leaving from post five in the $4,800 featured conditioned trot, Hall scooted out to the front in a swift :30 opening panel. From there the 5-year-old son of Noble Venture got a 1:02 half-mile marker breather. Past the half, several would-be spoilers came first over which included J A T O (Dan Deslandes) who moved within a length of the leader at the 1:31.4 third panel.

Undeterred, Matt So Sure found another gear and scampered home a winner by 2-1/4 lengths, paying $3.80 as the wagering favorite. Co-owned and trained by Craig Hall with Cody Kelley, it was the fourth seasonal victory for the Maine-bred trotter who pushed his yearly earnings to $26,936.

Osprey Delta (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Prescott (Andy Harrington) was third.

In the third leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) Cain MacKenzie lit up the tote board with his own Martaritaondarocks, scoring in 2:01.1 and paying $35.40.

Scoring from post seven and getting away last, MacKenzie made a bold three wide move down the backside to swoop the field and draw off and win by 8-3/4 lengths. The 4-year-old daughter of Pet Rock grabbed her third win of the season. MacKenzie also owns and trains seasonal earner of $23,582.

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

Like the entire industry, the horse people in Maine, and specifically Cumberland Raceway, were deeply saddened by the losses sustained from the barn fire at Tioga Downs.

Many of the trainers and drivers participating at Cumberland on Sunday, November 26, will be donating their percentages to the southern tier Harness Horseman’s association in an effort to help those affected by this tragedy.

Anyone that would like to contribute or participate in this benefit please contact Aaron Hall or Chris Tully.

Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday & Sunday (Nov. 25 & 26) with an 11 am post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Luke McGook scores at Cumberland Saturday; Campbell wins four

November 18, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was reunited with Maine’s 2023 sophomore pacing champion Luke McGook, with the pair easily capturing Saturday’s (Nov. 18) featured $5,000 conditioned pace at First Tracks Cumberland.

Scoring from post two, the 3-year-old son of Rock N’ Roll World was sent right to the top and proceeded to make every Mike Cushing-call a winning one. On a moist track Switzer Jr. set fractions of :29, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 while maintaining better than a length advantage.

At the head of the stretch the colt was given his head and had four lengths on the field. As the field slipped away behind the Benson Merrill-trained quarter-million dollar winner, the pair tripped the timer in 1:59.2, scoring by 11 open lengths. Owned by Leighton Property, it was the tenth victory of the season and pushed his seasonal earnings to $110,479. Luke McGook paid $2.20 to win.

Always A Mystery (Bruce Ranger) finished second; Rambling Ruby (Aaron Hall) was third.

Driver Drew Campbell hit a grand slam on the Saturday card, starting the day winning the opener with My Mind Is Made Up ($3.80, 1:59.2, trainer Michelle Lefebvre), and continued with victories driving The Shining ($5.00, 1:59.2, Kimberly Vafiades); Checksinthepuddin ($19.80, 2:04.1, Brian Lamb); and Reys N A Ruckus ($4.80, 2:00.3, Eric Bickmore).

Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 19) with an 11 am post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine races Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of November and will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Maine-breds fill the box at Cumberland

November 17, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Judy Ellis photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Now that the Maine Sire Stakes have crowned their champions, many of the star 3-year-old pacers are still itching for action in the Pine Tree State. Due to an overflowing entry box, two dozen races were carded for Saturday (Nov. 18) and Sunday (Nov. 19), many of which include sophomore pacers who have found their way back to First Tracks Cumberland.

So Rock N’ Roll, a product of the Tardif Taskforce, has found a new home in the Benson Merrill Stable now that Marc and Peggy Tardif have transitioned down to Gilcrest Training Center in Bell, Florida to prepare their next group of starters. Fresh off a win in his last start, the son of Western Maverick was the second leading point earner in the glamour boys division over the course of the 12-week Maine Sire Stakes season. Despite having finished worse than second just once in 18 starts this year, earning $170,672, he still has some veterans to overcome in this group. Reunited with his part-time pilot Kevin Switzer Jr., he has been installed at 6-1 from post five in Saturday’s second race $4,800 conditioned pace with breeder Leighton Property retaining ownership.

His stable mate and arch nemesis Luke McGook, the leading male 3-year-old pacer in Maine, has found a spot in Saturday’s eighth race $5,000 conditioned pace. Also driven by Kevin Switzer Jr., the son of Rock N’ Roll World is the 7-5 favorite for his Leighton Property owners and scores from post two. A winner of nine races in 15 seasonal outings with $107,979 earned, which includes his victory in the $71,134 Maine Sire Stakes final for the Tardif Stable, he is now trained by Benson Merrill.

In the ninth race $4,000 maiden pace the Maine boys and girls play nice together as fillies Ally Mac (Western Maverick) and Alittlemorebliss (Deuce Seelster) meet geldings Rockaroundsam and Ill Rock The World (both by Rock N’ Roll World) with the dual intention of earning money and a new lifetime mark.

On Sunday’s (Nov. 19) card Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) rounds out the Leighton Property 3-year-old troika. Kevin Switzer Jr. gets the call on the former Tardif pupil now under the tutelage of Merrill. The successful earner of $96,060 gets saddled with post eight, but still carries the hopes and dreams of the punters and has been set as the 7-5 first choice. The filly has 6 wins and 8 seconds in 18 seasonal starts for her connections and should handle this $4,400 fillies and mares conditioned pace rather easily.

Sunday’s card also features the third $4,400 leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), with the dominant Penny’s Spirit (5-2, McKenzie Sowers) assigned post eight. The MADC series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine. The Blue Seal Feeds company, through the urging of Aimee Nichols the territory manager for Blue Seal Feeds in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, has made a generous $5,000 donation to the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen’s Association to benefit the horse people adversely affected by the recent Tioga Downs barn fire.

Both the Saturday and Sunday cards will have twelve races with full fields. Wagering options include our Pick 5 starting with the third race; the Pick 4 highlights the ninth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale.

First Tracks Cumberland in Maine races Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of November and will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023. Post time remains 11 am.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Broadway Giant towers over field at Cumberland

November 13, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Ron Patoine’s Broadway Giant added another victory to his ever-growing win column on Sunday (Nov. 12) at Cumberland, scoring for the second time in as many weeks.

Driven by Bruce Ranger, the 9-year-old son of Broadway Hall left from pylon position with several speedy trotters leaving swiftly for position outside of him. One horse in a hurry went off stride, leaving Mister Muscle (Aaron Hall) to take command and put the 4-5 favorite into the two-hole. Wasting little time while heading to the 29.1 opening panel, Ranger pulled the pocket to take the lead.

Following a softer :59.3 second stanza Ranger continued to show the way with Broadway Giant as Little Macabee (Drew Campbell) pulled first over down the backside and into a 1:29.2 third quarter. Rounding the final turn Little Macabee had dead aim on the leader and was poised to pounce. But Broadway Giant found another gear and held off the would-be spoiler to prevail by half of a length in 2:00.1 to take the featured opener, a $5,500 conditioned trot.

Owned and trained by Ron Patoine, it was the eighth win of the year for Broadway Giant, and the fourth victory of his last five outings. He paid $3.80 to win and increased his seasonal earnings to $27,910. Mister Muscle finished third.

In the winter season’s second leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) owner-trainer-driver McKenzie Sowers scored for the second week in a row with her own Penney’s Spirit in 2:00.2. Making a bold three-wide move down the backside, the 14-year-old son of Ring Of Life rang the bell again, paying $14.40 to win. Canbec Kingkazimir (Todd Whitney) finished second; Led Schneppelin (Jason Bertolini) was third.

The MADC series is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.

Drew Campbell, Aaron Hall and Bruce Ranger each won two races on the car, with trainer Randy Bickmore picking up a pair as well. With statistics going back to the beginning of the year, Bruce Ranger leads all reinsmen with 58 victories, followed by Kevin Switzer Jr. (53), Nick Graffam (41), Drew Campbell (40) and Aaron Hall (39).

Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 18) with an 11 am post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine races Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of November and will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/