Empereurthebest FR ruled the featured $7,639 conditioned trot on Friday (April 25) at Cumberland Raceway, and is now two-for-two on the season.
Scoring from post seven, driver Walter Case, Jr. was content to allow his French-bred steed settle in the fourth position as even money choice Jax Spratt (Aaron Hall) assumed the early command. Empereurthebest FR pulled going past he paddock the first time and blasted up to the front just past the :29.1 opening panel.
Following the softer :59.3 half-mile marker, Drew Campbell tipped Rose Run Yakim from fourth to move up first over around the third turn. Jax Spratt was sitting pretty in the catbird seat, with Inquiring Mind (Steve Wilson) on the cones fourth. He was joined by Gemstone Pillar (McGwire Sowers) gapping second over through the 1:29.3 third stanza.
Although the challengers tried valiantly, down the stretch there was no catching Empereurthebest FR, as the 11-year-old son of Un Amour Dhaufor coasted home in 2:00 by a length and a quarter for owner Stanley Bubier Jr. and trainer James Dunn. He paid $6.40 to win, connecting for the sixth time in his last eight starts dating back to last November.
Inquiring Mind finished second; Rose Run Yakim was third.
McGwire Sowers won four races on the program, three of which were trained by Autym Robinson. Nick Graffam and Drew Campbell each piloted a pair of winners.
(with files from First Tracks Cumberland)