Walter Case Jr. drove Hoosier Shark to a front-end victory in First Tracks Cumberland’s $7,639 feature on Sunday, Nov. 3, winning in 1:57.2 by a scant half a length, while driver Drew Campbell pushed his meet-opening weekend win total to nine.
Leaving from post three, Hoosier Shark and Case never saw the back of a helmet as they breezed through opening fractions of :27.3 and :59 before being challenged first-over by Ranaldi (Kevin Switzer Jr.) into a 1:27.1 third panel. Around the final turn, Drew Campbell pulled Airspinder three-wide on the outside, while pocket-sitting Denver Seelster (Nick Graffam) ducked up the inside as the field straightened out for home.
Down the stretch, Hoosier Shark was desperately looking for the finish wire as the swarm of would-be upsetters had him surrounded. Hoosier Shark held his foes at bay for trainer Chris Lefebvre and owner Lonnie Lefebvre, as the six-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis was the 9-5 second choice on the board behind the even-money favourite Ranaldi. He paid $5.80 to win. Denver Seelster finished second and Airspinder was third.
In other action, Drew Campbell picked right up where he left off atop the driver standings following a five-win day during Cumberland’s Winter Festival opener on Saturday, winning four more races on Sunday, which gave the veteran driver nine scores over the 20-race weekend.
Once again, Campbell started the day off with a victory in the opener, steering Miki De Vie to a seven-length romp in 1:58.1, a seasonal best. Owned by MLefebvre Racing and trained by Chris Lefebvre, the four-year-old son of Always B Miki picked up his third win of the year, paying $5.20, and giving the connections a double.
Campbell hit the Daily Double with Rose Run Slider in a wire-to-wire rout for trainer Mark Harris and owner Gayle Harris. Tripping the time in 1:58.2, the 10-year-old son of Western Ideal got his seventh score of the season and paid $2.60.
Power Master gave Campbell his third win on the card, and blew up the tote board in the process. With heavy 1-9 favourite Lord Magnetic making a break behind the gate, Campbell let 38-1 longshot JK Lucky Charm cut the fractions from post eight. Tipping past the third stanza, Power Master, at 80-1, rolled past the pacesetter and scored by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2. Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Robert Kluchevitz, the three-year-old son of Shadow Play acquired his fifth win of the year, paying a whopping $163.60 on a two-dollar ticket.
Campbell got his fourth win of the early afternoon with the Harris's Axion Hanover, winning in a gritty, rim-rolling fashion by a length in 1:58.2. The five-year-old Betting Line gelding recorded his eighth win of the year and returned $2.80 to his backers as the favourite.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)