Cumberland, ME — The Pine Tree State’s best trotters just got a pay increase this week, as the winners over class of over-achievers will go for $7,000 this Friday (May 10) at Cumberland.

New arrival Kilauea leads a group of Maine’s fastest diagonally gaited set to go postward for the salary bump as race nine on the afternoon’s 12 race-card.

Fresh off a 1:56.4 victory at Ohio’s Miami Valley, the 6-year-old son of Kadabra has moved to the barn of Chris Hitchcock and looks for his third win of the season. Named for an active volcano on the Island of Hawaii (pronounced kee-lou-ey-ah), Kilauea has been installed as the early 2-1 morning line favorite with Bruce Ranger down to drive from post four.

The second choice from post six is Armagedon Seelster (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) who is the leading seasonal money winner in the field with $22,780 on his card.

Earlier in the day, one of Maine’s favorite daughters, Pickmepickme, has come home to roost. The now 4-year-old multiple stakes winner by Western Maverick has drawn the pylon position in race two, and gets the return services of Walter Case Jr. for trainer Mark Tardif. With lifetime earnings of $160,546, she is listed at 5-2, just behind Humor Me (2-1, Aaron Hall), an older mare with $180,613 in her career bankroll.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s (May 11) card, the opener features week five of the Maine Amateur Driving Club with six part-time reinsmen vying for bragging rights. The early favorite is Rest Assured (David Zuckerman) listed at 2-1 from the rail. Last week’s winner Furious Beach (Mike Girouard) has been assigned post six and is pegged at 4-1. Fan favorite Putnams Storm (Bob Nadeau) scores from post two.

As always, the $5,000 MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The featured $6,000 pacing event is programmed as race eight and carries six of the state’s faster sidesteppers, including the return of Gordon Corey’s Call Me Maverick.

Next week, horse racing enthusiasts can watch and wager on the 149th Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. Considered the “middle jewel” of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown, the race is known as the ‘Run for the Black-Eyed Susans’ with Cumberland hosting the full-card simulcast on Saturday (May 18).

First Tracks Cumberland’s Spring/Summer meet continues with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through Aug. 3. Post time is always 3:15 p.m.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com.