Cumberland, ME — Driver Nick Graffam won the featured $6,500 Winners Over Pace on Friday (May 19) at Cumberland with The Bird Dance N, moving to within one win of 1,000 in his career.

Seven of the top pacers in southern Maine went postward in Friday’s eighth race, with Heath Campbell blasting out for the lead with Hespoisedtopounce A from post six. Graffam also left alertly, but settled into the two-hole with The Bird Dance N and sat patiently behind opening fractions of :27.4 and :57.3. Kevin Switzer Jr. was the first to pull going past the half, moving Lexus Withaview A alongside the leader into a 1:26.1 third panel while The Bird Dance N enjoyed a perfect trip behind the two front-end battlers.

At the head of the stretch, Graffam slipped the 3-5 favorite up the inside to fly home and win easily by three-quarters of a length. Lexus With a View A got up to be second; Hespoisedtopounce A hung on for third.

Nick Graffam’s win with The Bird Dance N in Friday’s feature at Cumberland put him one away from 1,000 career driving victories. Stephanie Gray photo.

The Bird Dance N, an 8-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance trained by Karl Butterfield and owned by José Cervantes, paid $3.40 to win.

Graffam has eight chances to reach the 1,000-win milestone on the Saturday (May 20) program.

Aaron Hall had three wins on the card: Bellas Shadow (2:03; $2.20), Whatchagonnadoboo (1:57.3, $12.60), and a triple-digit score with Iwillmakeyousaywow (2:00.1; $102.20). The 29-year-old Hall began driving in 2014, but started competing full-time in 2017 and has amassed 498 wins. Dan Deslandes and Bruce Ranger both had driving doubles on the program, with the latter taking control of the drivers’ standings with 17 trips to the winner’s circle this season.

Saturday’s (May 20) program carries 11 races, and kicks off with a $6,500 Fillies and Mares Winners Over $10,000 Lifetime Handicap Pace. The Maine Amateur Driving Club, now in its third week, goes postward in the second race and is sponsored by Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham. The featured race for Sunday (May 21) is a $6,500 conditioned trot. Post time both days is 3:15 p.m.

Looking ahead to next Friday and Saturday (May 26-27), First Tracks Cumberland and the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association will present ‘Bruce Ranger Weekend’ at the fairgrounds, honoring the driver’s 10,000th career victory. A special color cover program wrap will be filled with seven pages of old and recent photos of one of Maine’s favorite sons, along with interviews and autograph sessions with Bruce Ranger. First Tracks Cumberland will also offer a $10,000 Free-For-All Pace as part of the weekend’s festivities, with preference given to horses that have made a purse start in Maine this season.

Live harness racing at Cumberland continues on Friday and Saturday each weekend through Aug. 5. Daily first post is 3:15 p.m.