Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was reunited with Maine’s 2023 sophomore pacing champion Luke McGook, with the pair easily capturing Saturday’s (Nov. 18) featured $5,000 conditioned pace at First Tracks Cumberland.
Scoring from post two, the three-year-old son of Rock N Roll World was sent right to the top and proceeded to make every Mike Cushing-call a winning one. On a moist track, Switzer Jr. set fractions of :29, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 while maintaining better than a length advantage.
At the head of the stretch, Luke McGook was given his head and had four lengths on the field. As the field slipped away behind the Benson Merrill-trained quarter-million dollar winner, the pair tripped the timer in 1:59.2, scoring by 11 open lengths.
Owned by Leighton Property, Luke McGook earned his 10th victory of the season from 16 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings to $110,479. Luke McGook paid $2.20 to win.
Always A Mystery (Bruce Ranger) finished second and Rambling Ruby (Aaron Hall) was third.
Driver Drew Campbell hit a grand slam on the Saturday card, starting the day winning the opener with My Mind Is Made Up ($3.80, 1:59.2, trainer Michelle Lefebvre), and continued with victories driving The Shining ($5, 1:59.2, Kimberly Vafiades); Checksinthepuddin ($19.80, 2:04.1, Brian Lamb); and Reys N A Ruckus ($4.80, 2:00.3, Eric Bickmore).
Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 19 with an 11 a.m. post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine races on Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of November and will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning Dec. 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.
For the third season in a row, First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, Dec. 23. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or retired and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program. Equine honourees must be present to participate and must ‘declare’ by Dec. 6. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an email of interest to Chris Tully at [email protected].
(First Tracks Cumberland)