One of five winners on the 12-race card driven by Kevin Switzer Jr., Rock Candy utilized his pylon position to secure his supremacy in the featured $8,889 conditioned optional claiming pace on Sunday, June 7 at First Tracks Cumberland.

At the start, three horses made a mad dash for the lead with Switzer Jr. holding Rock Candy steady along the pegs while offsetting the rush of Vel Straight Out (McGwire Sowers) and Vel Larry (Mike Stevenson) as the three hard-chargers stormed to the opening panel in a testy :27.2.

Heading into the second turn, Sowers took Vel Straight Out back to third with Stevenson moving forward with Vel Larry in a short-lived pacesetting position. By the time the pacers rounded the bend, Switzer Jr. had re-taken the point with heavy 4-5 favourite Rock Candy and proceeded to dictate the terms of the engagement, backing down the half to :57.4.

As they passed the stands for the first time, Aaron Hall had swung Married Man first-over with Liams Ace (David Ingraham) enjoying that second-up cover. Down the backside the final time, Married Man was parked and stalling, forcing Liams Ace three-wide into a 1:27 third station.

Around the final turn, Liams Ace took aim at the leader, but Rock Candy was as solid as a rock and drew off like a 4-5 shot should, scoring in 1:56.4, which was a new seasonal best. Liams Ace was second by 1-3/4 lengths and Vel Larry hung on for the show dough.

Trained and owned by Zach Vickerson, Rock Candy recorded his third straight win and 40th career victory while lifting his lifetime earnings to $758,290.

The 10-year-old Pet Rock-Cotton Candy gelding returned $3.60 to win.

Switzer Jr. started the day with victories in both halves of the Daily Double, scoring with Ali ($2.20) and Beyond The Past ($2.80). Then he won the fourth race with Touch Of Character ($3.20), the aforementioned ninth race feature and concluded his pentathlon in the finale with Jet Wills ($4).

With his five wins on Sunday, Switzer vaulted up the driving ranks to second place with 39 wins, just three behind Nick Graffam, who had a pair of wins on the card and sits on top with 42 on the season. Aaron Hall is in third place with 37.

Racing resumes Saturday, June 13 when First Tracks Cumberland with post time at 12:15 p.m. 

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)