It didn’t take former Maine Sire Stakes champion Gowestyounggrace long to get her groove back, scoring handily in her seasonal bow.

The now 5-year-old daughter of Western Maverick was a two-time Pine Tree State standout, and secured a decisive victory on Friday, April 24 at First Tracks Cumberland.

Regular driver Dave Ingraham let the precocious distaff ease off the car and settle into fourth position while the 3-2 favourite Urania Blue Chip (Kevin Switzer Jr.) left swiftly from her pylon position to set a :29.2 opening panel.

Gowestyounggrace was given her cue at the 1:00.1 second stanza and began her first over ascent toward the leaders.  In the short span of the backstretch she went from fourth to second and at the throat latch of the leader into a 1:29.1 third station.

Poking a head in front around the final turn, and taking full command at the head of the stretch, Gowestyounggrace showed her championship mettle and cruised home a winner by three parts of a length in 1:59.2. Second choice Commander Cathy N (Aaron Hall) finished a hard-charging second; Urania Blue Chip hung on to be third.

Gowestyounggrace returned $5.60 while capturing her 22nd lifetime victory, lifting her lifetime earnings to $306,543 for owner Sharon Ward of Oxford, Me. Sharon's husband, Fred Ward Jr., handles the training for the Team Ward homebred.

Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed five victories on the 11-race program, with McGwire Sowers grabbing a hat trick.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday, April 25 with a 12-race card featuring a $7,000 USD Winners Over Trot. First post is 12:15 p.m.

(with files from First Tracks Cumberland)