A host of winter Pop-Up Series were in full swing on Sunday, Dec. 7 with all of the holiday-themed events enjoying robust participation at First Tracks Cumberland, complete with streaking winners, tight finishes and handsome payouts.
Trainer Zach Vickerson swept the $11,111 divisions of the Blitzen, a conditioned optional $8,000 USD claiming Pop-Up Series for pacers, with the streaking duo of Rau Ru ($3.80) and Sheriff N ($3.60), who extended there respective win streaks to five with 1:57.4 and 1:58 miles in rein to Chris Long.
Perhaps the most exciting race of the day was the first $10,417 division of the Dasher, a Pop-Up Series for $5,000 USD claiming pacers. In a three-way battle, Echos Sharkie ($6.40) and driver Aaron Hall bested Ahoy Hanover (James Douchette) and Dark As Night (Nick Graffam) by a short head. Jamie Gerard owns and trains the six-year-old Shadyshark Hanover-Mappos-Moenhay gelding, who completed the mile in 1:58.3 while parked the last half.
The second Dasher split went to 13-1 shot Mornin Captain ($29.80) and Mike Stevenson in 1:58.1 by a nose over 16-1 shot Circling The Pray (Nick Graffam). The upset winner is trained by Ralph D'Amelio II.
There were also five $6,944 divisions of the Comet, a Pop-Up Series for non-winners of two races or $20,000 USD in 2025 with 15 or more starts. The driving and training team of Mcgwire and Autym Sowers teamed up for a pair of wins with Press Time ($13.20) and Fall In Line ($4.40) both making successful debuts from the Sowers stable with matching 1:59.1 miles.
This week’s other Comet winners were Fern Hill Flight ($2.80) in 1:59.2 for the team of Andrew and Sarah Harrington; Tobins Burke ($3.20) in 1:58.1 with Chris Long driving for conditioner David Crochere; and Justa Little Bit A ($2.20) in 1:57.4 for Mark and Gretchen Athearn.
In other news, Benson Merrill drove Jim Dunn trainee General Ward to a wire-to-wire victory in the $5,556 Maine Amateur Driving Club event, scoring in 1:59.4.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland; photo of Echos Sharkie winning on Dec. 7)