Cumberland, ME — Provisional driver Jason Bertolini drove Charlene Cushing’s Air Force Grad like a seasoned pro in one of Saturday’s (April 30) Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) races, and lit up the tote board at 18-1.

Jason Bertolini scored with Air Force Grad in a division of the Maine Amateur Driving Club, lighting up the tote board at 18-1. Stephanie Gray photo.

Scoring from post three in the $3,800 MADC group C event, Air Force Grad took a seat in fourth on the pylons and waited patiently while the other teamsters jockeyed for position. Three Day Forecast (Todd Whitney) cut the opening fractions of :28.2 and :59.2 while Putnams Storm (Bob Nadeau) closed the pocket to keep Bettor Reason N (Zack Gray) parked out.

As the field passed the stands going to the half, Baywood Shadow (Derek Howes) enjoyed second-over cover while Gucciriffic (Karl Butterfield) was also out and moving third-over. With three in and three out and foreseeing tiring cover, Howes moved Baywood Shadow three-wide down the backside into a 1:29.2 thee-quarters. This caused Butterfield to swing four-deep with Gucciriffic, which gave Bertolini cover and racing room to follow Howes through the turn, blast past the tiring leader and win by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.3. Gucciriffic finished a fast-closing second; Baywood Shadow was third.

The 11-year-old son of The Panderosa paid a whopping $39.60 to win.

In the $4,200 MADC group B event, Benson Merrill guided Zampara to a wire-to-wire victory in 2:01.3, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths. Led Schneppelin finished second; Imageofarocker was third. The 8-year-old son of American Ideal is also trained by Merrill and is owned by Mo Coo Inc.

The featured race of the day, a $5,200 conditioned pace, was captured by Aaron Hall’s gutsy veteran pacer Lucan Hanover in 1:58.1. Hall got the 12-year-old son of Western Ideal away third, came first-over at the half, and sprinted off to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Miss U Big Mike finished second; King Royalty was third. Millionaire Lucan Hanover, who paid $4.80 to win, recorded the 58th win of his career.

Dave Ingraham scored in his first start back at Cumberland with Arsenal for owner-trainer Kelly Case. The 14-year-old son of Artiscape, who paid $57.20, won for the 51st time in 410 lifetime starts.

Wally Watson drove two winners for his wife Lisa Watson. After four weeks and eight racing programs, Kevin Switzer Jr. leads the driving standings and Benson Merrill is the top conditioner, both ahead by just one win.

Racing fans and bettors at First Tracks Cumberland will be able to watch and wager on next weekend’s iconic programs from Churchill Downs — featuring the Kentucky Oaks on Friday (May 6) and the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 7). Each card starts at 10:30 a.m. Programs, betting windows, monitors and concessions will be available in the Fairgrounds grandstand.

Beginning Friday (May 6), daily post time for the Spring/Summer meet has been moved to 4 p.m. (EDT). Cumberland’s extended pari-mutuel meeting offers races each weekend through July 23.

Condition sheets for next week can be found on the United States Trotting Association’s website.

More information can be found on the track’s website.