First Tracks Cumberland's leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. dominated the 13-race card on Sunday, Nov. 16, winning six races including three in partnership with the Zach Vickerson stable.

Switzer won the opener with Instant Replay ($2.20) for trainer Kimberly Vafiades and the sixth race with Stonebridge Grand ($4.40) for conditioner Robert Marston before winning the last four races on the program. During his late day win streak, he teamed up with Vickerson trainees Sheriff N ($2.60), Rau Ru ($2.40) and Rock Candy ($2.20). He also won with the James Dunn-trained General Ward ($12).

Switzer has a nearly insurmountable lead in the Cumberland drivers standings, sitting way atop the leaderboard with 83 trips to the winner's circle. McGwire Sowers (51), Aaron Hall (40), Nick Graffam (38) and Drew Campbell (37) round out the top five.

Arts Flight ($2.60) was a back-to-back winner in Sunday's $7,042 featured conditioned pace, topping stablemate Grand Galop Semalu in a 1-2 finish for trainer Sara Harrington.

Nick Graffam sent 1-5 favourite Arts Flight from the car from post two and grabbed the point with minimal urging. The four-year-old son of Artistic Fella-Saluki Hanover hit the opening panel in a modest 29 seconds over the "good" track with Press Time (Aaron Hall) in the pocket. 

The field was stretched out through a soft :59.1 half-mile, with little action materializing on the outside. The first challenge came in the form of Grand Gallop Semalu (Andy Harrington), who was sitting fifth until the paddock turn and brushed up alongside the leader by the time they passed the 1:29 third stanza. Always A Mystery (McGwire Sowers) followed the cover on the outside and brushed into contention while rounding the final turn. 

At the head of the stretch, the pacesetting Arts Flight had his work cut out for him as the two challengers set their sights on the wire and were gaining momentum with every stride. Through mid-stretch, Arts Flight fought back and was able to keep the would-be spoilers at bay as they hit the finish line together in 1:59.3. Owned by Mac Stables of New Gloucester, Maine, Arts Flight prevailed by three parts of a length to capture his eighth win of the season in 25 starts. 

Todd Whitney won the $5,634 Maine Amateur Driving Club event on Sunday with the Marianna Monaco-trained pacer Lear Seelster in 2:02, returning $4.80.

Racing resumes on Saturday, Nov. 22 at First Tracks Cumberland, with the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continuing its weekend action throughout the month of November. Cumberland will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays) beginning Dec. 5. The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21, 2025.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland; photo of Kevin Switzer Jr. winning on a previous race day)