Beyond The Past was much the best in the featured $7,639 conditioned pace at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday, May 17, showing his heels to the field in an effortless score.
Driven by perennial leading reinsman Bruce Ranger, the six-year-old son of JK Endofanera-Where Are We had the pylon position from the start and never once saw the back of helmet during the rest of the winning performance.
Setting opening fractions of :28.3 and :58.2, the victor had Dinner Party (Drew Campbell) at his back through both circuits. After reaching the third panel in 1:27, Beyond The Past started to gain some separation on the field and tripped the timer in 1:55.4. Dinner Party finished three lengths behind in second and Sixfingerfreddie (McGwire Sowers) rounded out the top three.
Trained by Bob Marston for owner John Di Antonio Jr., Beyond The Past earned his second victory from five seasonal starts and 15th win of his career, lifting his bankroll over $150,000.
He paid a nice $11.80 for the triumph.
Axion Hanover scored by a neck in another swift, upper-class event, a $6,667 conditioned pace, for driver Drew Campbell in 1:57.2. Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, the six-year-old Betting Line-Armbro Amoretto gelding paid $11.40 to win. Favourite Always At My Place (Zach Vickerson) finished second, missing by a neck, with Cotton On N (Kevin Switzer Jr.) less than a length behind the winner in third.
Hunter Lofthus returned to his winning ways, taking this week’s Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event with Maximus in 1:59.2. A full field of eight lined up with a purse of $5,556 on the line, but they were no match for the Benson Merrill-trained nine-year-old son of Sportsmaster-Theladyappealstome as he was parked for the entire first lap from post eight and drew off to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Maximus paid $10 for the victory. The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.
There was another ‘triple double’ on the afternoon program, with drivers Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. each enjoying a hat trick. Trainers Benson Merrill and Bob Marston both harnessed a pair of winners. After 12 cards of the spring meeting at Cumberland, the leading driver is McGwire Sowers with 21 wins, followed by Nick Graffam (18), Drew Campbell (16), Bruce Ranger (12) and Kevin Switzer Jr. (11). The top conditioner is Autym Robinson with 17 wins, followed by Benson Merrill (11) and Andy Harrington (9).
Racing reconvenes at Cumberland on Friday, May 23 at 3:15 p.m.
Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland will be offering horsepeople several lucrative late closing series to choose from, most with $12,500 USD finals, throughout the month of June.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)