September 27, 2024, by Chris Tully for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Once again, First Tracks Cumberland welcomes the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old Pine Tree State-bred harness horses on Saturday (Sept. 28), which is being held on the final day of the 152^nd Cumberland Fair.

The first final for 2-year-old pacing fillies, is probably the most completive on paper.  The current point leader Chasing Dudes (3-1, Nick Graffam) leaves from post seven, giving her combatants Whisper Of Luck (2-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Leanne Marie (5-2, Mike Cushing) a distinct advantage from post one and two respectively. 

Leanne Marie comes into the race off a win in the final leg of the series, and also the fastest record (2:01.3) which she took at Farmington on Sept. 17.  The homebred daughter of Artistic Fella is trained by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing, who also co-owns with owners-breeders Pamela Smith and Jane Dipompo.

The freshmen filly trotters have Pandemic Princess as their point leader, who hails from the powerful Valerie Grondin Stable and gets the services of Heath Campbell.  Fresh off a win at Farmington, the daughter of Whataworkout was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, who still maintains ownership.  She will score from post six and is listed at 5-2. 

The early morning line favorite in that division is Blizzard’s Fury (2-1, Switzer) who also hails from a powerful stable in the Tardif Taskforce.  Despite early-mile miscues, she regularly regains her composure and trots home with purpose to be 1-2-3 in nearly every start.

While the Maine-bred fillies seem to be evenly matched, the boys are led by a distinct standout in their divisional battles.

The sidestepping colt and gelding pacers have been chasing Massive Speed (6-5, Walter Case Jr.) all season long.  The son of Dude’s The Man brings an unblemished record of nine wins in nine starts to the contest, and leaves from post two.  He sports a mark of 1:58 at Bangor, is trained by Marc Tardif, owned by Leighton Property, and was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.

Several of the race’s top contenders also hail from the Tardif Taskforce, as Marc and Peggy have five in this final.  Due to a favorable post position, Valerie Grondin’s Keenan Star (5-2, Heath Campbell) also has a punchers change at divisional glory.

Like his pacing counterpart, Whatawonder, has dominated his male trotting division. A son of Whataworkout, the Lisa Watson-trained wunderkind has a perfect 9-for-9 record. 

Ken Watson has driven the gelding perfectly all season for owner-breeder Barbara Watson, and is the even money favorite from post six.  While the talented high-stepper has never seen the back of a helmet, a few would-be spoilers are poised to pounce should any there be any unforeseen opportunities. 

Liberty’s Wildcard (9-5, Switzer) has seven second-place finishes behind the divisional leader, and has gotten to Whatawonder’s wheel on several occasions.  Stable mate Katahdin Victor (3-1, Wally Watson) also knows the top dog’s tricks and could be right there also.

The full card of harness racing action begins at 1 pm, with the four $75,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes events being carded as races two, four, six and eight on the 12 race program.

Including the Maine Stakes, First Tracks Cumberland has added several pop up series finals to the day’s festivities, bringing the total purses on the program to nearly $380,000.  The track is also holding its popular Cumberland Derby where fans can enter to win up to $500 by picking the correct race winner.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

September 26, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Gowestyounggrace and Mrs Foxy Roxy both took their respective $19,921 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday (September 25) at the Cumberland (Maine) Fair.

It was the ninth straight victory and tenth on the season for Gowestyounggrace who has been unstoppable since late-June.  Owned and bred by Fred and Sharon Ward and trained by Fred Ward, the swift daughter of Western Maverick gave Emma Rozze and Heath Campbell a re-take into the 29 first panel.  It was the first time that the filly had seen the back of a helmet in months, so Ingraham wasted little time re-establishing command before the 1:00.2 half.

By the third stanza in 1:30.2, with the rest of the field following intently, it was only a matter of how fast he would let ‘Grace’ pace down to the wire.  Ultimately the final time was a reserved 1:59.4, winning by 1-3/4 lengths.  She paid $2.20 to win as the heavy favorite.

Who’s Perfect (Aaron Hall) finished second; Emma Rozze was third.

In the other division, Mrs Foxy Roxy and Walter Case Jr. led every step of the way, scoring in 2:00.3 by neck over a fast closing Pembroke Red and Heath Campbell. 

It was the third seasonal victory for the daughter of Deuce Seelster, who paid $11.60.  Trained by Bob Marston for Bill McElvaine Jr., Diane Dunn and Brad Veilleux, she was bred in Maine by Kristina and Gary Hall.

My Sweet Revenge (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished third.

Before the Wedneday card the Maine Standardbred Breeders Association held a special on-air draw at First Tracks Cumberland, where Saturday’s (Sept. 28) four $75,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes finals for 2-year-olds were drawn.

CUMBERLAND RACEWAY

Saturday, September 28, 2024, First Post 1:00 PM

Second Race

MAINE SIRE STAKES FINAL 2 Year Old Filly Pacers  

Purse: $75,821     Class: ME SS FIN*     Gait: Pace         Dis: 1 Mile    

HN    Horse              Driver              Trainer            

1   WHISPER OF LUCK    Ke Switzer Jr       Ma Tardif          

2   LEANNE MARIE       Mi Cushing          Ch Cushing           

3   RUFF DUDE’S JENA   Da Ingraham         Ke Case              

4   AUDRY              St Wilson           Ch Cushing           

5   THINKIN BOUT LIFE  Wa Case Jr          Ma Tardif            

6   GLORILLA           Ro Cushing          He Cushing           

7   CHASING DUDES      Ni Graffam          Mi Graffam           

Fourth Race

MAINE SIRE STAKES FINAL 2 Year Old Filly Trotters  

Purse: $75,916     Class: ME SS FIN*     Gait: Trot         Dis: 1 Mile    

PP  Horse              Driver              Trainer            

1   LITTLE  SHOT       Iv Davies           Iv Davies          

2   KATAHDIN MISTRESS  Wa Watson           Li Watson          

3   BLIZZARD’S FURY    Ke Switzer Jr       Ma Tardif          

4   RACE ME BOMBSHELL                      Wi Childs          

5   BELABELLE          Er Bickmore         Er Bickmore        

6   PANDEMIC PRINCESS  He Campbell         Va Grondin         

7   BARBELLA           Br Ranger           Ke Andersen        

8   LADY LAKE MARTY    Ke Watson           Li Watson          

Sixth Race

MAINE SIRE STAKES FINAL 2 Year Old Colt & Gelding Pacers  

Purse: $76,023     Class: ME SS FIN*     Gait: Pace         Dis: 1 Mile    

PP  Horse              Driver              Trainer            

1   CHEATIN FATE       Ke Switzer Jr       Ma Tardif          

2   MASSIVE SPEED      Wa Case Jr          Ma Tardif          

3   RACE ME CELTIC     Wi Campbell         Wi Childs          

4   KEENAN STAR        He Campbell         Va Grondin         

5   ELLA V DUDE        Br Ranger           Ma Tardif          

6   DAWN TWO DARK      An Harrington       Ma Tardif          

7   GRACIES TOUGH GUY  Da Ingraham         Fr Ward Jr         

8   JAX ATTACK         Aa Hall             Ma Tardif          

Eighth Race

MAINE SIRE STAKES FINAL 2 Year Old Colt & Gelding Trotters  

Purse: $75,753     Class: ME SS FIN*     Gait: Trot         Dis: 1 Mile    

PP  Horse              Driver              Trainer            

1   JUST FOOLIN        He Campbell         Da Crochere        

2   IRON MIKE          Ma Athearn          Gr Athearn         

3   ENCHANTED PRINCE   An Harrington       Ki Ireland         

4   LIBERTY’S WILDCARD Ke Switzer Jr       Ma Tardif          

5   KATAHDIN VICTOR    Wa Watson           Li Watson          

6   WHATAWONDER        Ke Watson           Li Watson          

The Maine Sire Stakes continues, along with a full cards of harness racing action, at the Cumberland Fair with the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27).  The 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28).  Post time is 1:00 pm each day.

The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.

After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 25, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Mocha On The Rocks overpowered his foes to take the $6,000 featured pace on Tuesday (September 24) at the Cumberland (Maine) Fair.

Dismissed at 10-1, the 7-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance was rushed off the gate and dropped into the four hole by driver Heath Campbell. 9-5 favorite Forrest Blu (Kevin Switzer Jr.) led the field into a sizzling 27 second opening panel, with Grand Galop Semalu (Andy Harrington) sitting the pocket.

Driver Walter Case Jr. tipped Instant Replay out at the softer 57.2 half-mile marker, which gave some cover to Heath Campbell and Mocha On The Rocks. 

Down the backside with the outer flow stalling, an impatient Drew Campbell pulled Stop Staring three-deep into that 1:26.1 third stanza.  With that racing move waning in its intended purpose, the younger Campbell snuck out on the apex of the turn and swooped the leaders to rally down the stretch and score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.

Trained and co-owned by Valerie Grondin with partners William and Rhoda Underhill, it was Mocha On The Rocks’ 15^th lifetime win, and pushed him over the six-figure mark to $100,018 in career earnings.  He paid $23.00 to win.

Grand Galop Semalu finished second; Forrest Blu hung on for third.

Kevin Switzer Jr. (Salute America, 1:59.4, $3.80; Twin B High Tech, 1:57.3, $5.80) and Aaron Hall (Search By The Sea, 1:56.4, $7.20; Thruway, 2:02.3, $2.60) each picked up a pair of driving doubles on the eight-race program, which helped keep the reinsmen at the top of the Cumberland Fair drivers standings.  After three cards, Aaron Hall leads with six wins, Switzer follows with five, and Harrington and Case each have three.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Cumberland Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 25), and then rolls into the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27).  The 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28).

Racing continues at the Cumberland Fair on Wednesday (Sept. 25), with the live harness action starting at 1:00 pm (new post time) for the remainder of the week through Saturday (Sept. 28). 

The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.

After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 24, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Bettors had a big day at the Cumberland (Maine) Fair on Monday (Sept. 23) with five of the eight races resulting in double-digit win ticket payouts.

Wally Watson got things started with his own Terror Hall and a three-wide move down the backside to score in 1:58.2.  Trained and co-owned with his wife Lisa Watson, the 11-year-old son of Western Terror paid $23.20 to win.

The next big payout came by way of Easteriffic and Andy Harrington who scored a thrilling neck victory over Ten Beaches Later (McGwire Sowers) to win in 2:00.1.  Owned and trained by Ryan Berry, the 9-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven mare paid $29.60.  Harrington also won with Polyester (1:58.3, $5.40), resulting in the reinsman’s driving double.

Mike Cushing also scored a driving victory when he used a three-deep move to swoop the field and draw off by five with Joe’s Beauty in 1:58.4.  Trained by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing for owner Bryson Dostie, the 7-year-old Roll With Joe mare paid $10.00.

Winter Asher-Stalbaum’s Hurrikane Bunny gave catch driver Walter Case Jr. his three-wide on the outside romp, scoring in 1:58 with the 9-year-old son of Rare Bunny.  They paid $21.00 for the win.

Aaron Hall had three wins on the program, starting with trotter Squable (2:02, $2.60), and then Third Power (1:58.4, $10.40), and completing the troika with Love Kitten (2:00, $4.40)

The Maine Sire Stakes re-opens at the Cumberland Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 25), and then rolls into the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27).  The 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28).

Racing continues at the Cumberland Fair on Monday (Sept. 23), with the live harness action starting at 1:00 pm (new post time) for the remainder of the week through Saturday (Sept. 28). 

The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.

After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 23, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing at the 152^nd annual Cumberland Fair kicked off on Sunday (Sept. 22) with former Maine Sire Stakes champion Wolverina bringing all the Graffam connections together once again to pay homage to one of their own.

The 5-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood left swiftly from post five to gain command of the field, with driver Nick Graffam coasting through fractions of 28.4 and 59.4 to the first half.

Wolverina continued to pave the way while the ‘four-in, four-out’ outer flow attempted to get closer to the lead.  Into the 1:29 third panel the challengers were all stacked up on the outer rim, but to no avail, as the mare was large and in charge.

Graffam and his talented distaff kept the aggressors at bay as the pair rolled down victory lane of her home track in 1:58.4, prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths.  Bred and co-owned by trainer Mike Graffam, with co-owner Bill Arnold, it was Wolverina’s 22^nd lifetime victory.

A two-time Maine Sire Stakes champion at both 2- and 3-years-old, the mare now has $335,578 in lifetime earnings.  She paid $4.20 to win.

In the winner’s circle, family and friends honored the late Lori Graffam, mother of driver Nick Graffam and caretaker Bethany Graffam. 

Humor Me (Aaron Hall) finished second; Cash Crazy Express (Drew Campbell) was third.

Golden Tree (2:00, $3.20) and Kevin Switzer Jr. took the opener, dubbed the Living Legend Donald Richards Pace, where the 91-year-old trainer-driver was feted by his many admirers. 

While the overnight races were all legs of the track’s popular pop up series, carrying purses up to $5,200 each, the pop up finals on Saturday (Sept. 28) will host equally lofty prizes of up to $10,000 each.

The Spring-Summer meet’s leading reinsman Kevin Switzer had three wins on the 11-race program.

The Maine Sire Stakes reconvenes at the Cumberland Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 25), and then roll into the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27).  The 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28).

Racing continues at the Cumberland Fair on Monday (Sept. 23), with the live harness action starting at 1:00 pm (new post time) for the remainder of the week through Saturday (Sept. 28). 

The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.

After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

POST TIME is now 1 pm for MON 23 SEPT through SAT 28 SEPT

September 21, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Stephanie Gray photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Down East faithful will transition from Farmington to the 152^nd annual Cumberland Fair on Sunday (Sept. 22) with eleven harness races programmed at the iconic Southern Maine oval.

Many of Maine’s rural fairs are known for their tractor pulls and draft horse demonstrations, however the Cumberland fair was first held in 1868 with harness racing as the “Maine” attraction.  It remains one of the biggest annual agricultural events in the southern part of the Pine Tree state.

The harness action at the Cumberland Fairgrounds will start at 1:30 pm on opening day, Sunday (Sept. 22) with full cards scheduled for eight racing dates through Sunday (Sept. 29), with a special post time of 11 am for that final date.

The featured events for the opening day card are the first legs of five individual pop up series, which are conditioned and/or ‘TrackMaster rating’ trot and pace events.  The series finals and top class overnights carry total final purses of over $75,000, are being held in conjunction with the $300,000 Est. Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, September 28.

Sunday’s (Sept. 22) opening day card has 11 races with each dash a pop-up series leg carrying purses of up to $5,200.

Maine Sire Stakes continue at the Cumberland Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 25), and then roll into the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27). 

After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

August 4, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Marc and Peggy Tardif’s Maine-bred colt Cheatin Fate refuted his dire diagnosis, brushed off the grim reaper, and went on to win his first Maine Sire Stakes on Saturday (Aug. 3) at Cumberland Raceway.

While many of the sport’s harness racing fans were anxiously anticipating the start of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, Cheatin Fate quietly went about his business and took home his first pari-mutuel victory.  Proving to his naysayers that this colt had much more life in him than some gave him credit for, the son of Thirty Two Red was more or less cast aside by an academic veterinarian when he was afflicted with a bad case of colic.

Raised in Bell, Florida at the Tardif’s farm on the quiet, sandy back roads of Gilcrest Training Center, the colt was in the early stages of breaking and training when he got sick in November of last year.

“Our local vet came to the barn and suggested we take him to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital in Gainesville,” Marc Tardif recalled.  “So we loaded him up and dropped him off around 1 am the next morning.”

A day later the hospital called and said that the horse had improved dramatically and was ready to come home and could be treated off site.

“Two hours later they called back and said he had taken a turn for the worse,” Tardif continued.  “They said we had to either approve emergency surgery, or euthanize, immediately.”

Neither Marc nor Peggy Tardif agreed with that diagnosis and went back to the hospital and picked up the colt.

“He was never experiencing extreme pain, it simply looked like an average case of colic,” noted Peggy Tardif.  “We just didn’t understand why they would recommend such a dramatic course of action.  So we decided to just bring him home and work on him with our local vet.”

Following some fluids and medicinal treatment while back in Bell (FL), the horse returned to normal in a few days, and has been fine ever since.  Half a year later the colt made his first start in a Learn and Earn baby race at Cumberland. 

During July he made two starts in the Maine Sire Stakes with a second and fourth place finish.  On Hambletonian Day Cheatin Fate lived up to his name and won his $16,161 division for freshmen pacing colts in 2:02.4.

Leaving from pylon position Cheatin Fate got away third and then had to be checked by regular driver Andy Harrington when stable mate Just Aftermidnight (9-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) made a break right in front of him while heading to the quarter pole in 30.1.

While Cheatin Fate was regaining his ground in the two-hole, I’m Not Maverick (13-1, John Beckwith) arrived first over into a 1:02.2 softer half.  Following that live cover was the headstrong Jax Attack (6-5, Walter Case Jr.) who had since recovered from his earlier rambunctiousness.

With the outer flow fading into that faster 1:32 third panel, Cheatin Fate was poised to pounce in the pocket behind the pacesetting This Dudes Perfect (11-1, Heath Campbell).  Around the final turn Harrington tipped his charge and rolled off the turn and started to bear down on the leader.  Gaining ground with every stride the once discounted equine prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths.

Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, it was the colt’s first lifetime victory and fastest mile here-to-date.  He was bred in Maine by Kristina and Gary Hall and paid $5.00 to win.

This Dudes Perfect finished second; Jax Attack was third.

In the second $16,161 division it was a Tardif Trifecta as the 1-9 favorite Massive Speed utilized a perfect pocket trip to grab his fourth career victory in a new lifetime best 2:00.3.  Undefeated thus far this season, the son of Dude’s The Man is trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property.  He paid $2.20 to win and was bred by Laurie Harding.

Tardif stable mates completed the trifecta ticket with Dawn Two Dark (Harrington) and Ella V Dude (Switzer) caught in an official dead heat photo for second.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Topsham with a one day push due to rain on Sunday.  The 3-year-old filly pacers were originally scheduled for Monday (Aug. 5) and the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers slated for Tuesday (Aug. 6).  Those divisions are reportedly set to race on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

August 4, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – On Cumberland Raceway’s richest day of the summer meet Ron Cushing’s Ever Hoping A set a track record in the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational on Saturday (Aug. 3), which was also the loftiest purse of the year at the iconic Southern Maine oval.

Scoring from post four, driver and co-owner Ron Cushing let several of the anxious speedsters blast out to the front.  First to the point was 16-1 longshot Skyway Victor and Drew Campbell.  Around the turn Hespoisedtopounce (Andy Harrington) jumped into the two-hole in front of 4-5 wagering favorite Heinikin Bythebay and leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr.

Switzer wasted no time down the backstretch before moving to the rim and ultimately taking command into a swift 27 second opening panel.  As the field of top pacers moved toward the half, Ever Hoping A flushed the cover of The Wild Card (5-2, Nick Graffam) as the tightly bunched group moved toward the softer 56.3 half mile marker.

Pacing down the backstretch for the final time Graffam urged The Wild Card while Switzer kept Heinikin Bythebay rolling on the lead.  With time running out Cushing pulled Ever Hoping A three-wide on the backside into a fast 1:24.3 third stanza as the rest of the talented group is stacked up behind him.

With the slingshot momentum in his favor Cushing urged his horse through the lane to prevail by half a length in 1:53.4, resulting in a track record for an aged pacing gelding and equaled the all-age track record at Cumberland.

Driven and co-owned by Ron Cushing with partners Stephen Downey, Ronald ‘Steve’ Ralph and Romanelli Racing, the 6-year-old Australian-bred son of Always B Miki picked up his 17^th lifetime victory.  He paid $10.80 to win for listed trainer Carlos Rodriguez.

Heinikin Bythebay finished second; Skyway Victor was third.

In other signature events, trainer Alison Hynes sent the Walter Case Jr.-driven Lifes A Puzzle out to a 1:55 triumph in the $12,500 Frank M. Dubeuil Jr. Memorial.

At the start an early tussle between JK Objection (Heath Campbell) and the other Alison Hynes-trained entrant and 7-5 favorite Call Me Maverick (John Beckwith) resulted in a blistering 26.4 opening panel.

With his stable mate cutting the fractions Case flushed the cover of Rocksapatriot (Dave Ingraham) while heading into the 56.2 half.

While gapping out his cover going down the backstretch Walter Case Jr. was forced three wide around the second-over Bet On Joe (Switzer), past the 1:25 third quarter pole, and through the final turn to swoop the leaders and triumph by a tight length.

Owned by Richard Humphrey with special recognition to the Gordon Corey Institute of Equine Erudition, the 4-year-old son of Lazarus N picked up his 9^th lifetime win.  Scoring from post seven, he paid $13.80 to win.

The victory marked the triumphant return of Walter Case Jr. who was sidelined for the last two weeks by a racing mishap.  Proclaimed as our local ‘Rocky Balboa’ by track announcer Scott Ehrlich, the 63-year-old reinsman had two wins on the card and finished third in the seasonal driver’s standings behind leader Kevin Switzer Jr. (67) and Drew Campbell (42) who overtook second place with five wins on the final day’s program. 

Campbell’s five victories included: Luke McGook (1:54.3, $4.00), Rose Run Slider (1:57.1, $14.80), Silk Road Smash (1:55.2, $3.80), Little Macabee (1:59.1, $45.20) winning the $12,500 Winners Over Trot, and the finale with Polyester (1:56.3, $6.60).

Trainer Marc Tardif, whose powerful Maine Sire Stakes stable concentrates on young horses, finished the meet in first place with 27 victories, with his three afternoon’s victories vaulting him in front of Bob Marston who finished second in the standings with 25 wins.  Early leader Jeff Deslandes was third with 24 trips to the winners circle.

Track record holder Ry’s Red Rocket and Bruce Ranger took the $12,500 Fillies and Mares Winners Over Pace in 1:55.2.  Owned and trained by Don Richards, the 7-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach was bred by Linwood Higgins and picked up her 28^th career victory, paying $3.40 to win.

Former national amateur driving champion Todd ‘Too Tough’ Whitney who finished third in the Hambletonian Amateur Drivers Trot at the Meadowlands on Friday night (Aug. 2) was back in Maine the next day to compete in the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) final.  He went wire-to-wire with Vel Miss Taylor from post three to score by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:59.  Trained by Chris Lefebvre for owner Mo Coo Inc., the 4-year-old daughter of Ponder grabbed her 13^th lifetime win.  They paid $11.60 to win.

MADC points leader Hunter Lofthus finished second with his own Forrest Blu; Jonathan Bresnahan was third with Fly Away BB.  The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

Harness racing action resumes during the annual Cumberland Fair for a week of live action beginning September 22 and continuing through Sept. 29.  The track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and races through December 22 and will include the popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/