Kevin Switzer Jr. picked right up where he left off when racing resumed at First Tracks Cumberland on Sunday, Nov. 8, driving six winners on the opening 12-race card including a trio trained by Benson Merrill.
The familiar blue and black adorned Switzer Jr. wasted little time getting to victory lane as the 39-year-old took the opener with Merrill trainee Queen Suzy in a gate-to-wire romp by 6-1/2 lengths. The 9-5 favourite showed her heels to the field right from the start, making every call a winning one in a 2:05.1 final time over a track rated ‘good’ with a two-second allowance. The four-year-old daughter of Dover Dan took the $6,197 conditioned trot, returning $5.80 to win.
Switzer completed a sweep of the early Daily Double with Rau Ru in 1:59.4, the swiftest mile of the day. Trainer Zach Vickerson's pacing gelding paid $3.20 to win.
Cumberland's leading reinsman was back in the winner's circle after taking the seventh race with even-money favourite Jax Spratt ($4) edging out his Aaron Hall trotting stablemate Storm Bringer by a neck in 2:03.1, then upset the apple cart in the eighth with veteran pacer Sheriff N ($30.60) in 2:00.3 to give the Vickerson stable a double on the day.
Switzer completed his successful Sunday by teaming up with Merrill to take the late Daily Double, starting with 6-5 second choice American Maverick ($4.40) posting a two-minute mile for the eight-year-old Western Maverick gelding's fourth win in a row, finishing half a length ahead of the favoured Cool Man Dude in a $8,169 conditioned optional claiming pace.
The five-year-old Deuce Seelster mare Mrs Foxy Roxy ($4) capped off the card with a 2:02.1 triumph for the duo, holding on by a head over Polyester to deliver as the even-money favourite in a $6,197 fillies and mares conditioned optional claiming pace.
The day's feature race was a $9,014 conditioned trot won by Matt So Sure ($29.80), who used a cover trip to come from off the pace and score the upset in 2:02.4 for driver Heath Campbell and owner/trainer Craig Hall.
For the sixth season in a row, First Tracks Cumberland will present its Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, Dec. 12. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or have recently 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 their photograph in the special commemorative program. Equine honourees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Nov. 24. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an email of interest to Chris Tully at [email protected].
Racing resumes on Friday, Nov. 13, which kicks off the three-day (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) weekend action throughout the months of November and early December. First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel 15-day meet concludes on Dec. 13.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland; photo of American Maverick winning on Nov. 8)