First Tracks Cumberland’s upcoming opening weekend marks the first harness racing dates of the year in the state of Maine, and leads off with two cards sporting a dozen races on both Friday (April 8) and Saturday (April 9).
Post time for the Spring/Summer meet is set for 3 p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays, with the extended pari-mutuel meeting racing each weekend through July 23.
Friday’s card wastes no time getting into the top classes, featuring a $6,500 Open I Trot to kick off the Daily Double, with two standouts that had been squaring off at Saratoga recently, Northern Skyway (post four, Nick Graffam) and Vesuvio Bi (post six, Bruce Ranger). Combined, they sport more than half a million in lifetime earnings, and should benefit from the change in scenery. Not to be taken lightly is TrackMaster third choice Kyrie Deo (post five, Mark Athearn), who ran off and hid in his recent Cumberland qualifier. The five-year-old son of Donato Hanover won his last two at Plainridge before the previous season’s end.
The first race kicks off the Cumberland 50-cent Pick-5, along with the usual Daily Double, Exacta and Trifecta wagering.
The second ‘top trot’ of the day is the $6,000 Open II, which features some of the usual local suspects from 2021, along with some out-of-town invaders looking to steal some thunder. Aaron Hall’s recent acquisition brings Storm Bringer (post five) in from the Burke stable and Yonkers where he earned $11,000 in just three starts this season. Elisha Lafreniere sets up 14-year-old Ubanji (post one, Bruce Ranger) for his swan song season, looking to improve on his second-place finish last week at Monticello. James Dunn brought Thruway (post three, Nick Graffam) across the Ohio Turnpike from Miami Valley where the seven-year-old son of Cantab Hall picked up $14,000 seasonal buckeyes before heading east.
Race three marks the start of the track's new 20-cent Pick-6 with a low takeout of 16 per cent.
Saturday’s card is equally exciting, with several Open events for pacers, as well as the triumphant return of the greatest side show in harness racing, the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC).
Race nine features the top pacers on the grounds, and the $6,500 Open I pits five over-achievers against one another over the recently refurbished racing surface. Ron Cushing returns from the tough Ohio circuit with Starznheaven (post four) where the 10-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven already earned $17,000 this season. Nipping at his heals will surely be Soho Leviathan A (post five, Kevin Switzer), who posted the fastest qualifier of the year at Cumberland (1:58.4) for trainer Bob Marston. Looking to resume his position amongst the top ranks is Captain Nash (post three, Bruce Ranger), who was on the board in 6 of 7 attempts at the tail end of the 2021 Southern Maine season.
Races eight and 10 denote the start of the Maine Amateur Driving Club 2022 season. The always popular and lively events attract a well-rounded group of young and old, novice and seasoned, big and small harness drivers competing for swag bucket trophies and bragging rights.
The eighth race MADC $3,800 Group C features many of the top contenders of last year, including series point leader Benson Merrill (post five, War Daddy), along with MADC president Joe Burke (post six, Meetmeatthedance), as well as up-and-comer Jason Bertolini (age 25) and veteran Bob Nadeau (84).
The 10th race MADC $4,200 Group B sees many of the active teamsters return to the sulky, including local Amateur advocate Todd Whitney, who has amassed 162 victories over several decades of competition. Whitney, the 2010 National Amateur Driving Champion, drives early morning-line favourite Inforce from post six.
As always, the Maine Amateur Driving Club is sponsored by the nice folks at the North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feed Store and the Windham Blue Seal Feed Store, with leadership and support from Aimee Nichols, their dedicated territory sales manager.
The 12th race finale on both Friday and Saturday features the track's new 20-cent Hi-Five (Pentafecta), with a low takeout of 16 per cent.
Locally-based horseman Mike Stevenson is just one win away from his 2,000th driving victory and is programmed to steer six horses on Friday’s opener.
Next week features the first legs of the ‘Kick-Off’ Late Closing Series for pacers, with the top class going for a $12,000 final the following week.
Qualifiers will be held once a week on Saturdays at 2 p.m., before the start of the pari-mutuel card.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)