The Maine Amateur Driving Club was back in action on Saturday, April 12 at Cumberland Raceway, with the popular event set as the opener on a track dampened by overnight snowfall.

The muddy conditions didn’t stop driver Mike Girouard and the heavy 1-5 favourite, Menlo Park, from engaging in a front-end battle with Hunter Lofthus and 9-5 shot Art Scene, who gained the tactical advantage from the starting car in the $5,556 event. After begrudgingly surrendering the lead at the start, Girouard was right back out and moving to re-take the front with Menlo Park setting an eye-popping :28 opening panel.

Girouard gave his charge a brief respite going to the half in :58, but had to increase his tempo to maintain his advantage through a 1:27.4 third stanza.  Enjoying a perfect pocket trip, Lofthus tipped Art Scene to the outside off the final turn and set his sights on the leader.

By mid-stretch the pair was heads apart and the duo battled gamely through the final strides with Menlo Park and Girouard holding on by a scant neck in 2:00.3 to capture the victory. 

The eight-year-old son of Betterthancheddar is also owned and trained by Girouard. He paid $2.60 to win.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club events are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.

The dynamic duo of driver McGwire Sowers and trainer Autym Robinson teamed up to take a pair of event, with Hypnoticdream (2:02.1, $3.40) and Readyfortheladys (2:00.4, $4.60). The pair have accrued five wins over the opening weekend.

Top reinsmen Drew Campbell and Kevin Switzer each grabbed a pair of victories on the day’s program. For Campbell, the wins were with Dinner Party (2:00.3, $4) for trainer Chris DuBois and Rose Run Slider (2:01.2, $9.20) for Mark Harris. Switzer’s scores were aboard Heavensway A (2:02, $2.40) and Sherrif N (2:02.3, $2.40), who were both harnessed by Zack Vickerson.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday, April 18 and the box closes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15 for a double draw.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)