The final program for the Spring-Summer meet at First Tracks Cumberland on Sunday, Aug. 2 saw Big Al M and Arts Flight take their respective $16,901 Pine Tree Opens with records falling as the curtain closed on another successful harness racing season.
In the Pine Tree Open Trot it was all Big Al M who led from pillar to post with no threats in sight.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. the eight-year-old son of Anders Bluestone set opening fractions of :28.2 and 58.2 before kicking into high gear past the half. By the 1:26.4 third panel Big Al M was on top by six lengths and the track record appeared to be in jeopardy.
At the head of the stretch Big Al M had 10 on the field and the race was being fought for second between Brutalizer (Andy Harrington), Twoscoopsforjack (Mark Athearn) and the favoured Party At Seven (Nick Graffam).
Down the lane Big Al M cruised to a 16-length score in 1:56.2, which equaled the all-age trotting track record and established a new standard for an older trotting gelding. TCS Brenda (McGwire Sowers) swooped the battle for second in deep stretch the take the place position; Party At Seven finished third.
Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, Big Al M notched his fourth seasonal victory and 36th lifetime, lifting his earnings to $589,429. He returned $7.20 to win.
In the Pine Tree Open Pace the public’s third choice, Arts Flight (Harrington), sprinted swiftly to take command from the start and set a snappy opening panel of :28. Touch Of Character (Aaron Hall) was headstrong in the pocket with the favoured Married Man (Dave Ingraham) getting away in third.
The outer flow had begun right at the start as Jones Hanover (Wally Watson) had been parked every step of the first half in a swift :57.1. P L Pasquale (Kevin Switzer Jr.) picked up that second over cover with Graysons Pacin (Nick Graffam) third up from the back of the pack at the midway marker.
With Married Man gapping in third and Hall finding Touch Of Character eager to march onward, the pacesetting Arts Flight let out a notch into a torrid 1:25.4 third stanza. Around the final turn P L Pasquale found himself first over and ready to challenge the leader, as Touch Of Character had the same idea, the chasers appeared poised to pounce.
But Arts Flight still had a little left in the tank and held off the late chargers to prevail by half a length in 1:55, a new lifetime mark. P L Pasquale got up to be second; Married Man finished third.
Trained by Sara Harrington for owner Mac Stables, the five-year-old son of Artistic Fella picked up his sixth seasonal victory and 16th lifetime to accompany $178,018. He returned $10.40 on a $2 win wager.
In Maine Sire Stakes action the two- and three-year-old trotters competed in four $21-000-plus legs for their respective divisions. U Know I Know (Ken Watson) took the freshmen colt trot in 2:05.3; Princess Caledonia (Gary Hall) got her second seasonal score in 2:04.4; Hayden (Gary Hall) won again in 2:02.1 in the three-year-old filly trot; and the male sophomore trot went to Guss Workout (Heath Campbell) in 2:00, a new lifetime best.
Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers on the program with three scores, and finished the Spring-Summer meet as the leading reinsmen with 98 visits to the winner's circle. Nick Graffam (74) and Aaron Hall (62) finished second and third, respectively.
Michelle Lefebvre concluded the meet with 54 wins as the leading conditioner, closely followed by Bob Marston with 48.
Racing resumes at the Cumberland Raceway at the annual “Always in September” Cumberland Fair for an eight-day meet starting Sunday, Sept. 27. The Winter Festival at First Tracks Cumberland starts on Nov. 8 for a 15-day meet through Dec. 13.
(with files from First Tracks Cumberland; photo of Big Al M)