Cumberland, ME – Driver Nick Graffam sent Tobins Burke on a wire-to-wire sprint on Saturday (Nov. 14) to take the $4,400 co-feature on a crisp, but clear, morning at First Tracks Cumberland.
Graffam sent the 1-5 favorite out for an early lead, with Boyd Bay (Aaron Hall) also storming out from behind the car looking for position and settling into the pocket.
With Tobins Burke in full command the maritime province-bred 7-year-old son of Tobago Cays hit the opening panel in 28.4. The field tracked along obediently toward the 59.3 half-mile station, with no real threats coming from off the pace.
Heading into the 1:28.1 third panel the pacesetter had advanced his lead to five lengths with the race for second stacking up behind Boyd Bay by way of Maximus (Hunter Lofthus) sitting third and Checkers Legacy (Dave Ingraham) first over in fourth.
But they couldn’t catch Tobins Burke who cruised home an easy winner in 1:58.1 by 3-1/2 lengths. Trained by David Crochere for owner Robyn Crochere, it was his third seasonal victory and 17th in his lifetime. He returned $2.60 to win the fastest race of the day.
Boyd Bay maintained his pocket position to finish second; Checkers Legacy closed swiftly to be third.
In other news, veteran teamster “Double Digit” Dave Ingraham lived up to his Gabe Prewitt-coined moniker by scoring with Finevineofsunshine in the seventh to reward his backers with a $51.40 payout on a $2 dollar win ticket for owner-trainer Rex Ellis.
Not to be outdone, up-and-coming pilot Hunter Lofthus won the next race with Mooss Trax with a three-wide move down the backside to take a bite out of 1-9 heavy favorite Gator Hanover and blow up the tote board at 51-1. Owned and trained by Dave McLelland the 5-year-old son of Time To Roll returned $104.40. Lofthus, an electrical linesman by trade, has well over 400 starts this year with 26 wins and was second or third another 107 times. Why the 38-year-old professional is still listed as a provisional driver remains one of life’s great mysteries.
McGwire Sowers picked up four driving wins on the program, and Kevin Switzer Jr. grabbed a hat trick. Twelve different trainers all enjoyed trips to victory lane on the late morning, early afternoon card.
Racing resumes on Sunday (Nov. 15) with a 9-race card ds at First Tracks Cumberland. The Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues next week on Saturday (Nov. 21) with a first post of 10:55 a.m.
For more information and a complete racing calendar go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/