Cumberland, ME — Swan Fine Lady showed the men who was boss as the trotting mare won Saturday’s (July 16) $6,500 Open 2-3 Trot at First Tracks Cumberland.

Scoring from post six, the 4-year-old mare by Swan For All took a seat in fifth when three horses dashed to the front to tussle for the top. Mister Muscle (Bruce Ranger) led the charge into a :27.3 first quarter, followed closely by Pembroke Regal (Heath Campbell). Ron Cushing sent Swan Fine Lady first-over and moved up to third place by the time the field hit the half-mile marker in :58.1. As the pack moved in a tight bunch around the paddock turn and onto the backstretch the final time, Ranger asked pacesetting Mister Muscle for all of the trot he could muster as they hit the third panel in 1:27.4. Meanwhile, Swan Fine Lady was holding her ground first-up and had moved closer into second, with Pembroke Regal boxed in third.

Rounding the turn for home, Swan Fine Lady looked the leader in the eye and went right on by to win by a head in 1:59.3. Matt Athearn shook loose late with Warrawee Preferred and charged down the lane to be second. Pembroke Regal hung on for third.

Swan Fine Lady ground uncovered to beat the boys in Saturday’s Open 2-3 Trot at Cumberland. Stephanie Gray photo.

Heidi Gibbs trains 23-time winner Swan Fine Lady, who paid $7.00 to win, for Ron Cushing, Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs.

In Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) action, Alex Richardson plied a textbook wire-to-wire rout with the Lisa Watson-trained Tail Hook in 1:59. Ideal Rowan (Zack Gray) finished second; Rockintheniteaway (Derek Howes) was third. The victory put Alex Richardson into second in the MADC standings going into the final week of the meet.

Tail Hook, a 5-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, is owned by Fox Ridge Stable and paid $7.00 to win.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club is sponsored by the North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feed Store and the Windham Blue Seal Feed Store, with leadership and support from Aimee Nichols, their dedicated territory sales manager.

There were three Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS) held before the regular program.

The first non-wagering race, for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carried a purse of $12,479 and was captured by Ranaldi over Deal With It Roman and Use Yah Blinkah. Heidi Gibbs trains the son of Western Maverick for owner-breeder-driver Ron Cushing.

The following two MSBS races were for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Luke McGook won the second non-bettor in a wire-to-wire 2:01 while lowering his mark. Kevin Switzer Jr. drove the son of Rock N’ Roll World for trainer Marc Tardiff and owner Leighton Property. Luke McGook, who was bred in Maine by Erica Saucier, is now 3-for-3 on the season. So Rock N’ Roll (Walter Case Jr.) finished second; Facemaskrequired (Andy Harrington) was third. The top three finishers are all trained by Marc Tardif.

The third and final non-wagering event saw Twice The Ice, a son of Deuce Seelster, perform coolly under wraps for driver Walter Case Jr., scoring coast-to-coast in 2:01.4. Twice The Ice is owned and trained by Marc Tardif, was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, and also lowered his mark over the swift Cumberland surface. Two Towns Over finished second; Rockaroundsam was third.

Walter Case Jr. made three trips to the Blue Seal Feeds Winners Circle, while Ron Cushing had two victories. Marc Tardif and Lisa Watson both enjoyed training doubles.

Harness racing at First Tracks Cumberland starts to wind down before Maine’s pari-mutuel fair racing season begins, with the final weekend of the current meet going to post at 4 p.m. next Friday (July 22) and Saturday (July 23).

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