Lester Dancer’s Timbo Slice made it two-in-a-row on Friday (Dec. 9) at Cumberland, now taking both of his $4,000 elimination legs of the Polar Express Late Closing Series #1.
Driven by Andy Harrington, the three-year-old son of Sunshine Beach wasted little time moving to the lead from post five. Parked to the opening panel in 30 seconds flat while navigating around a rough-gaited JJ Maximus (Aaron Hall), who got away second, he passed Bayonet (Mike Stevenson) swiftly as that one yielded command without incident.
An anxious moment for Timbo Slice and Harrington never followed as they cruised to the half in 1:01.2 and past a 1:31.1 third panel with no threatening outer flow in sight. Under mild encouragement, Timbo Slice tripped the timer in 2:02, ahead by 1-3/4 lengths. Bayonet finished second and public choice JJ Maximus was third.
Owned and trained by Lester Dancer, Timbo Slice earned his third seasonal victory from 38 starts and paid $13.20 to win.
In the race three, the second $4,000 division of the series, Cash Crazy Express (Aaron Hall) got the shuffle back to fourth and rebounded in the lane to score by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:01.2. Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, the six-year-old Art Major mare grabbed her sixth win of the year and has not missed the board in her last nine outings. She paid $7 to win. Led Schneppelin (Jason Bertolini) cut the mile and finished in a dead heat for second with Dancin Hill (Bruce Ranger).
The top eight money-winning horses from the two eliminations that enter will move on to the $10,000 final on Friday, Dec. 16. Timbo Slice was the only horse to win both of his elimination legs, with Cash Crazy Express and Cee Pee Panic both winning one.
Dave Ingraham and Aaron Hall each won three races on the day’s card. Trainer Mike Bilodeau enjoyed two victories.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)