July 27, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Maine’s entire group of 2- and 3-year-old trotters invaded Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (July 26), with all eyes upon co-track record holder Hayden as the filly attempted to avenge her defeat in her most recent outing.
One of four $14,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes on the afternoon program, the sophomore filly trot was carded as race seven and it was evident that the 1-2 public choice was back to her previous form. Trainer-driver Gary Hall left swiftly from the outermost post six with the daughter of Cantab Fashion and set a swift :29.3 opening panel, leaving three lengths back to the pocket sitting Pembroke Lady (Heath Campbell).
Hayden was then checked back to a more reasonable 1:01.1 midway marker, prompting John Nason to come first over with I Think I Can. Through the 1:31.3 third panel the pacesetting distaff had allowed the aggressors to get within a half-length of her command. However, things changed dramatically around the final turn as Hall gave the filly her head and she scampered off to win by 7-3/4 lengths, leaving the rest of the field in her wake with a mile in 2:01.3.
Owned and bred by Stephen Hall, it was the third seasonal victory for Hayden, which was just two fifths of a second off of her previous track record performance. She returned $3.00 for the fifth win of her career, increasing her lifetime earnings to $70,160.
Our Last Quote (Mike Cushing) rallied for second; I Think I Can was third in the $15,486 event.
The other $15,035 Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts was a pari-mutuel dash with the Watson’s U Know I Know emerging as that division’s talent by virtue of his second consecutive victory.
Ken Watson drove the son of Whataworkout to another wire-to-wire romp in 2:06.2, scoring by five open lengths. Leaving from post two U Know I Know had 12 lengths on the field at the :31.4 opening panel, and after a 1:04 breather, 3-5 favorite Come On Charlie (Mark Athearn) had caught the colt past the 1:35.2 third station.
Nonetheless, as soon as the leader heard hoof beats nearby he responded with a :31 closing kick to grab a new time badge.
Trained by Lisa Watson for owner-breeder Barbara Lawson, he returned $4.00 for his back-to-back triumph.
Pembroke Zagursky (Heath Campbell) was a fast closing second; Come On Charlie was third.
Earlier in the day, before the pari-mutuel card, Wilder N Idy also recaptured some of his previous glory in the $14,783 division for 3-year-old male trotters.
Following a miscue in his last start, the son of To The Hilt returned to his home turf to try to improve his fortunes for Team Athearn. Despite a bobble at the start, and spotting the pacesetting Gus’s Workout (Heath Campbell) six lengths, driver Mark Athearn managed to regain the gelding’s composure to get up in the final strides to prevail by three parts of a length in 2:01.
Trained by Gretchen Athearn for owner Patricia Leavitt, it was Wilder N Idy’s third seasonal victory. Bred by the late Mike Andrew, his lifetime earnings are now $132,919 with 11 career victories under his belt.
Trottinfortreasure (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
In the second $14,681 early Maine Sire Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies it was a stable mate battle right down to the wire as Mikella Bella overtook the pacesetting Princess Caledonia (Gary Hall) after the filly went off-stride in mid-stretch.
Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer and co-owner Gary Hall, the daughter of To The Hilt won picked up her first win by a length in 2:09.4. Also owned by James Kelly Jr., Betsey Kelley and Kristina Hall, she was bred by Anita Anastosopoulos.
Cape Cod Friday (Dave Ingraham) was third.
Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers on the Sunday card with four trips to the winners circle, raising his stats on the seasonal leaderboard to 93 wins. Nick Graffam sits second with 70, and Aaron Hall is third with 59. Gary Hall, Marc Tardif and Lisa Watson each enjoyed a pair of training wins on the program. Michelle Lefebvre leads all conditioners over the Spring-Summer meet with 54 wins, while Bob Marston is second with 43 heading into the final weekend of the campaign.
Racing resumes on Saturday (August 1) for the final weekend of the Spring-Summer meet at First Tracks Cumberland.
First post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.
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