Nikasa N put up all the fractions to score her fifth win in a row in a $6,197 conditioned pacing event on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Cumberland Raceway.
The nine-year-old mare swept from post seven to the lead in a :28 opening panel for leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr., got a big breather to the half in :59.4, and remained steady on the point to three-quarters in 1:29.1. She gave no chance to pocket-sitter Cash Crazy Express (David Ingraham) as she drew clear to a 2-3/4-length victory in 1:59.2. Cash Crazy Express held off Rojas Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson) for place.
Nikasa N's win streak started with three consecutive victories at Bangor Raceway, while the last two have been at Cumberland. The daughter of Bettors Delight-Nickys Ideal has made her most recent three starts for owner-trainer Russell Lanpher III after he claimed her on Oct. 26. She is now 29-for-143 lifetime with earnings of $352,639. She paid $2.60 to win.
Big Al M rolled to a wire-to-wire triumph in the featured $7,746 conditioned trot, snapping a six-week winless spell.
Switzer put the 1-9 favourite on the engine in a :29.2 opening panel, with Brutalizer and Andy Harrington sitting in a tight pocket. As the group hit the half in 1:00.3, the outer flow began with Steve Wilson tipping Inquiring Mind, followed by and Valyrian Steel (Cain MacKenzie), who was a gapped second-over. With the competitors advancing, Big Al M accelerated down the backstretch and hit the third station in 1:29.3, which gave Brutalizer some daylight and allowed Harrington to shift him out around the final turn and begin a battle down to the wire.
Big Al M continued to hold sway over the challengers, and the seven-year-old son of Anders Bluestone-Bringing Up Lindy maintained his momentum and prevailed by three parts of a length in 1:59.4. Valyrian Steel got up for third.
Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, Big Al M took his ninth win of the season in 23 outings and the 31st of his career in 101 appearances. He increased his lifetime bankroll to $557,934. The win price was $2.20.
Switzer notched four wins on the program, while Harrington, Ingraham and Stevenson each took a pair.
Veteran teamster ‘Double-digit Dave’ Ingraham is quickly approaching a milestone of 8,000 career victories, and now sits at 7,998. When racing resumes on Sunday at First Tracks Cumberland with a 13-race card, Ingraham is listed for 10 drives. The Pick 5 starts with the third race, the Pick 4 highlights the 10th, and the High-Five Pentafecta is in the finale. All three bets have a low 16 per cent takeout.
(Standardbred Canada & Cumberland; photo of Nikasa N winning on Sept. 6, 2022)