Driver Aaron Hall grabbed both trotting race features at First Tracks Cumberland on Sunday, Nov. 19 -- one for his dad Craig Hall and the other for his own stable.
Hall began his victorious afternoon in the $4,400 fourth race sending his own charge Namesmuscle out to secure the lead from his pylon-based starting position. From that point, it was a convincing tour of the Southern Maine circuit as the 11-year-old son of Muscle Mass got every call, setting fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:31 while maintaining a length or so margin on his disciples.
When the three-year-old Wariner (Walter Case Jr.) moved first-over and challenged for the lead at the head of the stretch, Hall gave Namesmuscle his cue and strolled home a winner in 2:01.4. Scoring by three lengths, the odds-on favourite payed $3.20 to win. Richsnortherndream (Bruce Ranger) finished third.
Namesmuscle is owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps.
Two races later, Hall came right back with another wire-to-wire rout while driving his dad’s Matt So Sure to a 2:02.1 seasonal mark-equalling triumph.
Leaving from post five in the $4,800 co-featured conditioned trot, Hall scooted out to the front in a swift :30 opening panel. From there, the five-year-old son of Noble Venture got a 1:02 half-mile marker breather. Past the half, several would-be spoilers came first-over, including J A T O (Dan Deslandes), who moved within a length of the leader at the 1:31.4 third panel.
Undeterred, Matt So Sure found another gear and scampered home a winner by 2-1/4 lengths, paying $3.80 as the wagering favourite. Osprey Delta (Mike Stevenson) finished second and Prescott (Andy Harrington) was third.
Trainer Craig Hall co-owns the five-year-old Noble Venture gelding with Cody Kelley. The win was the fourth seasonal victory for the Maine-bred trotter, who pushed his yearly earnings to $26,936.
In the third leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), Cain MacKenzie lit up the toteboard with his own Martaritaondarocks, scoring in 2:01.1 and paying $35.40 to win.
Scoring from post seven and getting away last, MacKenzie made a bold three-wide move down the backside to swoop the field and drew off to win by 8-3/4 lengths. The four-year-old daughter of Pet Rock secured her third win of the season. MacKenzie also owns and trains seasonal earner of $23,582.
The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.
Like the entire industry, the horsepeople in Maine, and specifically Cumberland Raceway, were deeply saddened by the losses sustained from the barn fire at Tioga Downs earlier this month.
Many of the trainers and drivers participating at Cumberland on Sunday, Nov. 26, will be donating their percentages to the Southern Tier Harness Horseman’s association in an effort to help those affected by this tragedy.
Anyone that would like to contribute or participate in this benefit are being asked to contact Aaron Hall or Chris Tully.
Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 25-26) with an 11 a.m. post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning Dec. 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)