Dan Deslandes won the Cumberland opener on Saturday (May 21), a $5,200 featured pace, with Bo Master in 1:57. While this was enough to keep Deslandes in first place in the track's driver standings, a final tally of the day’s events resulted in a three-way tie for the top position with Matt Athearn and Drew Campbell.
Scoring from post four, Deslandes moved Bo Master right to the front, a place where he is very comfortable, and pushed through fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.2 to hold on for a half-length victory over Rys Red Rocket (Matt Athearn).
The eight-year-old son of Sportsmaster is also trained by Deslandes for owner Reggie Duguay. Bo Master paid $3.80 to win. Velocity Sub Z finished third.
From that point in the day, it was anyone’s guess as to who may emerge at the top of the talented Cumberland drivers’ colony. The day before, four drivers had moved to within one victory of first-place, which was held by Deslandes at 16, who now had 17 by winning the opener. Matt Athearn, Drew Campbell, Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. were all tied for second-place with 15 wins a piece.
As luck would have it, Athearn won the second race with his own horse Beammeupscottie ($3.80). The trainer is listed as Matt’s mother Gretchen Athearn.
The next two races were won by driver Nick Graffam steering Ira Chief ($13.20) and Sixby Hanover ($5.40), and both were trained by Mike Graffam, Nick’s father.
Then Drew Campbell got into the mix, scoring with Canbec Kingkazimir ($4.40) in 1:56.1. Trained by Chris Lefebvre, the 12-year-old son of Jeremes Jet was victorious for owner Michelle Lefebvre. Campbell came back to win the ninth race with Rock N Blue ($5.20) by a neck for trainer Chris Lefebvre and owner Ralph Silvestri III.
Sensing an opportunity, the finale was captured by Athearn and Dancin Hill ($4.20). The 11-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover is owned and trained by Ryan Berry with Todd Whitney.
The final outcome led to Athearn, Campbell and Deslandes finishing the weekend with 17 victories each, sharing the top of the heap. Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. are tied for fourth with 15 wins a piece.
Racing resumes on Friday (May 27) at Cumberland. Post time for the spring/summer meet is 4 p.m. on both Fridays and Saturdays, with the extended pari-mutuel meeting racing each weekend through July 23.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)