Both $7,534 co-featured events on the Friday, May 31 Cumberland card were wire-to-wire romps by their respective victors, Broadway Giant and Pretty Gorgeous.
In the top trot opener, perennial leading reinsman Bruce Ranger sent Broadway Giant right to the top and never looked back. Hitting the opening panel in :28.4, the 10-year-old son of Broadway Hall settled in on the point and allowed the battle for second to appear in his rear-view mirror.
Steve Wilson had 13-1 longshot Inquiring Mind safely in the two-hole after the start, but Dan Deslandes had the French trotter and 6-5 favourite Elegant Dulupin ranging up on the outside into a :59.2 half mile marker, after letting a parked-out Jax Spratt (Aaron Hall) into the three-hole. Following the live cover in the outer flow was Walter Case Jr. with Luvcrunchess.
Down the backside the final time, the leader had gained some separation as Little Macabee (Drew Campbell) pushed three-wide into the 1:28.1 third panel with the rest of the field gapping behind the pacesetter and bunched up in the final turn.
As they turned for home, Broadway Giant was on top by four and looking for more. The scuffle for second stormed on with the challengers giving chase to no avail. Elegant Dulupin FR finished second and Inquiring Mind was third.
Broadway Giant prevailed by a comfortable 2-3/4 lengths in 1:59.1, a new seasonal mark. Owned and trained by Ron Patoine, Broadway Giant notched his third win in six starts this year, pushing his lifetime earnings to $168,959. He paid $9.80 to win.
A few events later and the $7,534 fillies and mares pace produced another front-end folly with Kevin Switzer Jr. leading 6-5 favourite Pretty Gorgeous through a :28 first panel tussle with the pylon protecting Gimme Some Lovin (Andy Harrington).
While Switzer cleared with the wagering choice, he backed down the tempo to a :58.2 half, prompting Case to pull A Black Diamond first over and challenge for the lead. With Harrington and Gimme Some Lovin glued to Switzer’s helmet and Case rolling on the outside, the pack hit the third stanza in a furious 1:26.1.
As the field turned for home, Pretty Gorgeous drifted out into the centre of the track, allowing Harrington and Gimme Some Lovin to get a momentary advantage. Pretty Gorgeous fought back valiantly once she straightened out again and prevailed by half a length in 1:56.2, the swiftest race of the day.
Trained by Benson Merrill for owners John and Thelma Kiernan, Pretty Gorgeous assembled her sixth win of the year and equalled her season’s best record. The seven-year-old daughter of Im Gorgeous paid $4.60 to win.
Kevin Switzer Jr. won four races on the program, Bruce Ranger won three and Walter Case Jr. grabbed a double, including a toteboard shattering $77.40 win ticket with Oceanview Echo.
Racing continues Saturday, June 1 with a 10-race card, featuring a $6,000 USD conditioned pace where George Fenno’s Instant Replay will seek his third win in a row. There are also two divisions of the popular Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC), sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.
(First Tracks Cumberland)