Trainer 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 nine-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 favourite 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. Mister Muscle finished third.
The win was the eighth of the year from 23 starts for Broadway Giant and the fourth victory in his last five outings. He paid $3.80 to win. The trotter increased his seasonal earnings to $27,910.
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 Penneys 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 card, with trainer Randy Bickmore picking up a pair as well. With statistics going back to the beginning of the year, Ranger leads all reinsmen with 58 victories, followed by Kevin Switzer Jr. (53), Nick Graffam (41), Campbell (40) and Hall (39).
Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 18 with an 11 a.m. 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 Dec. 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve 2023.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)