Alex Having Fun enjoyed storming down the stretch to catch his colleagues at the wire, winning the featured $6,500 Winners Over Handicap Pace in a swift 1:56 on Saturday, Dec. 9 at First Tracks Cumberland.
Driven by Aaron Hall, the six-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven was saddled with post position seven but managed to get away fourth in the early going. High-energy wagering favourite The Bird Dance N (Dan Deslandes) scooted away from the car like an upbeat Tango performer, setting a blistering :27.4 opening panel.
As the field settle down and the gaps began to close, Hall moved Alex Having Fun first-over into a breath-catching :58.2 half. The challenger continued to bear down on the leader through an up-tempo 1:26.3 third stanza, with the pair heads apart as they rounded the final turn for home.
Hall let out a notch and let Alex Having Fun have his head as the pair paced swiftly down to the wire, winning by 2-1/4 lengths. The Bird Dance N settled for second and Ranaldi (Kevin Switzer Jr.) completed the top three finish order.
Owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades, Alex Having Fun picked up his sixth victory of the year from 30 starts. His seasonal earnings now exceed $88,000. He paid $5.60 to win.
The program also included three $5,000 divisions of the Rudolph Late Closing Pacing Series. The first division was captured by Art Of Endurance, who scored in a season’s best 1:56. Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Benson Merrill and owners John and Thelma Kiernan and Tom Bemont, the five-year-old son of Artspeak picked up his third win in a row at Cumberland. He paid $16.80 for the triumph.
The remaining Rudolph divisions were captured by Tim McMiki (1:59.3; $3) for driver Bruce Ranger and trainer Randy Bickmore, and Nagle (1:58.1, $14.20) with Dan Deslandes driving for Jeff Deslandes.
The next round of Rudolphs will compete for $6,000 purses next week, with the $10,000 final slated for Dec. 24.
Bruce Ranger had three wins on the program, with Dan Deslandes and Aaron Hall getting driving doubles. Trainer Benson Merrill harnessed two winners.
Racing continues on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Cumberland with a $554.86 carryover in the Pick-5, which starts in race three.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)