As the Pine Tree State’s horsepeople prepare for the start of the Maine Sire Stakes in a few weeks, a pair of the program’s graduates added to their respective bankrolls on Saturday, May 10 at Cumberland Raceway.
Perhaps last season’s best known pacer was Two Fold Cold, who dominated his three-year-old male pace with an impressive 12-for-12 seasonal tally. Trained and owned by Marc Tardif during his unblemished campaign, the son of Deuce Seelster-Snow Cone A earned $192,079 and took a mark of 1:55.2 on the historic Bass Park half-mile oval. Tardif has retained ownership; however, his industrious taskforce is concentrating on babies so he sent the now four-year-old gelding up north with Kelly Case.
Improving through his first three starts of the year, Two Fold Cold got his first seasonal victory after being parked to the quarter in :29.1 and powering through the middle splits of :59 and 1:27 then blasting home a winner in 1:57.4 in the $7,639 featured conditioned pace. Driven by Dave Ingraham guided Two Fold Cold to a 1-1/2-length victory over Kount Blaster (Wally Watson) and Heavensway A (Zach Vickerson). The favourite paid $4.20 to win.
Another Tardif protégé that had the misfortune of racing against Two Fold Cold last season is Arts Flight. The now four-year-old son of Artistic Fella did hold his own last year at three and hit the board in 12 of 15 starts while earning $92,202.
Driven by Aaron Hall, the swift side-stepper left powerfully in his $6,667 Saturday start despite being saddled with the outermost post seven and assumed command through an opening fraction of :29.1. His lead was short-lived as Arts Flight yielded to the 6-5 favourite Mornin Captain (Walter Case Jr.), who clearly had a ton of pace.
Approaching the 1:01.3 half in the off-going, On Line (Jason Bertolini) pulled first-over, with Salute America (Kevin Switzer Jr.) grabbing that cover second-over. Mornin Captain took the field through the 1:30.3 third panel with Arts Flight locked in the box right behind him. The battle ensued around the turn and into the home stretch where the first-over On Line stalled, which gave Arts Flight room to come off the pegs and challenge the leader.
Track announcer Scott Ehrlich exclaimed, “In deep stretch, here comes Arts Flight…too close to call.”
Racing officials were able to quickly determine that Arts Flight prevailed by a nose over Mornin Captain in the photo finish. Third-place went to Greysons Pacin (Dave Ingraham), who finished 2-1/4 lengths behind. The winning time was 2:01.1 with the judges allowing three seconds due to track conditions for this race.
Trained by Andrew Harrington for owner Mac Stables, Arts Flight earned his second (consecutive) victory from three seasonal starts. The son of Artistic Fella-Saluki Hanover paid $9.60 to win.
Hunter Lofthus returned to his winning ways in a $5,556 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event, scoring with Benson Merrill’s Ten Beaches Later in 2:03.4. Coming from off the pace to win in dominant fashion, bettors must have forgotten the reinsman’s prowess in last season’s series and sent him off at 13-1. The winner paid $28.40. The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.
Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday, May 16.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)