Cumberland, ME — Fast-class speedster Ranaldi took home the fastest of the $8,000 co-features on Sunday (Dec. 15) at Cumberland Raceway, giving red-hot reinsman Drew Campbell a hat trick on the mid-day card.
Leaving from pylon position, horse and driver left nothing to chance as the pair remained on the point for the entirety of the performance. Posting fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27, it appeared that 1-9 favorite Ranaldi would have little pressure from the rest of the field. But that all changed in deep stretch when pocket-sitting Drinka Beer (7-1, Andrew Harrington) took aim at the leader.
Under the shadow of the wire Drinka Beer was chugging away at the pacesetter’s advantage, but Ranaldi managed to prevail by a quarter-length in 1:57. Denver Seelster (Dave Ingraham) finished third in the first $8,000 division of leg two of the NW $30,000 in 2024 pop-up pacing series.
Owned and trained by Dakota Niles, the 5-year-old son of Western Maverick was bred in Maine by Ron Cushing and paid $2.20 to win his second consecutive race and seventh of the year.
The second division was captured by Lexus Witha View A who sat a perfect two-hole trip to outstep Hoosier Shark (Walter Case Jr.) in deep stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.1. Sarah’s Lilly (McGwire Sowers) was third.
Driven by Nick Graffam for trainer Jamie Gerard, the 10-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere is also co-owned by Gerard with Strategic Racing Stable. He paid $3.60 to win his second in a row, and fifth of the season.
The final of that series is slated for Saturday (Dec. 21) and carries a purse of $12,500.
Ryan Berry steered JK Lucky Charms to a 7-1/4 length rout over his Maine Amateur Driving Club comrades, winning the $4,000 event in 1:59.2. Trained by Allison MacDonald for owner Amy Weeks, the 7-year-old son of Sweet Lou grabbed his ninth seasonal victory, paying $12.60 to win.
Next week’s Maine Amateur final will boasts a purse of $8,000. As always, the MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.
Drivers Nick Graffam and Aaron Hall both had a pair of winners on the program. Drew Campbell led all drivers this weekend with 13 wins and now has a whopping 47 victories over the last 16 days of the winter meet. Campbell now leads all Cumberland drivers for the year with 89 dash wins. Kevin Switzer Jr. is second with 84, Walter Case Jr. is third with 59.
Racing resumes Friday (Dec. 20) for the final weekend of our 19-day Winter Festival, which concludes Dec. 22. Post time for the three-day weekend cards are always 10:55 a.m. Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies will take place on Saturday (Dec. 21), with a total of 12 entries to be paraded in front of their loyal Maine fan base, but those that are still racing will be eligible to participate in the $6,000 Auld Lang Syne 14-year-old pace.
For more information, go to our website at firsttrackscumberland.com.