Kevin Switzer Jr. drove three winners capped by a 1:56.4 score in the $6,500 Open I-II Pace with Deetzy during a short four-race span early on Saturday’s (April 16) program at First Tracks Cumberland.
Scoring from the outside post seven, Switzer got away fourth with Deetzy in the sixth race feature, sat for a spell, and then pulled just before the second stanza. While continuing to apply pressure through the second half-mile, the pair prevailed by half a length in 1:56.4 over the entry of Captain Nash (Bruce Ranger) and Nagle (Dan Deslandes), who finished third by three-quarters of a length.
Trained by Karl Butterfield for owner Jose Cervantes, the 10-year-old son of Jeremes Jet picked up his second win in a row, paying $9.20 to his backers. The victory was his 42nd lifetime and lifted his bankroll to $555,039.
“Switz” started the day off with a romp in the third race with Meetmeatthedance, cruising to victory by three lengths in the first $5,000 division of the Kick-Off Late Closing Series #2. Switzer guided the six-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance to a 2:01.1 wire-to-wire triumph for trainer Bob Marston and owner Joe Burke. Smart Move (Aaron Hall) finished second and advanced to the $10,000 final next Saturday. Meetmeatthedance paid $3.20 to win.
In the fourth race, fans witnessed Switzer Jr. giving longshot Cool Jack a textbook steer as they took a $4,800 conditioned pace. Scoring from post two, as the wings folded Cool Jack got shuffled back to fifth as four other horses sprinted to the front to fight for the lead. Flight Deck N (Dan Deslandes) was the first to clear the front from post four in a snappy 28-second first quarter. Shanghai Bobby (post five, Ron Cushing) was next to take command into a :57.2 half. Past the paddock turn, Matt Athearn moved Rys Red Rocket first-over and Switzer pulled Cool Jack out to follow second-over down the backside. Athearn cleared with Rys Red Rocket into a 1:27.1 three-quarter time, leaving ‘Switz’ plenty of racing room to roll through to the wire. Owned by Sheryl Gray, the nine-year-old son of Camluck prevailed by two lengths in 1:57 flat, giving young Zachary Gray his second lifetime training win. Cool Jack paid a whopping $34.60 to win.
Walter Case Jr. cruised to victory with the favourite Oceanview Echo to capture the second $5,000 division of the Kick-Off Series #2 division in 1:59.2. Winning by over five lengths for owner/trainer Dana Whittemore, the five-year-old Rollwithitharry mare paid $2.60 to win. Also advancing to the $10,000 final are Three Day Forecast and Silver Shooter, who locked in a dead-heat for second and also had the fastest race time (2:00.2).
The third and final Kick-Off Series #2 split went to Sandinista and Andy Harrington in 2:00.2. Trained by Sara Harrington, the 10-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip is owned by Robert Gibbs. Sandinista paid $25.20 to win. Racing For Rick (Matt Athearn) finished second and also earned a trip to the $10,000 final next week. The 2-1 Exacta paid $93.10. American Fighter (Nick Graffam) finished third, completing a 2-1-6 Trifecta that paid $1,021.50.
Also on the 12-race program were two divisions of the $6,000 Kick-Off Late Closing Series #3, which provided entrants with strong purses and a chance to grab some of the $12,000 final purse next Saturday at Cumberland.
The first division saw Colorful Speech (Bruce Ranger) paint a wire-to-wire picture of perfection to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Trained and co-owned by Zach Vickerson with Milt Vickerson, the 10-year-old son of Well Said is two-for-two on the season and paid $2.40 to win. Eleanor Jean (Gary Mosher) finished second with Baywood Shadow (Kevin Switzer Jr.) getting up for third. They advance to the $12,000 final, along with the fastest fourth-place finisher, Rose Run Slider (Nick Graffam).
In the second and final division, longshot Cyclone Pass flew by the leaders in the homestretch like a tornado. Driven by Nick Graffam for trainer Michael Graffam, the 12-year-old son of Western Cyclone unleashed a :29.3 last quarter to win by half a length in 2:00.4. Cyclone Pass paid $14.80 to win and is owned by Diane Frazier. Count To Three (Wally Watson) finished second, Rockintheniteaway (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third. All three earn a berth in the final.
Driver Bruce Ranger enjoyed a driving double, with 12 different trainers winning a race on the afternoon program. After four full programs, the top three dash-winning drivers are: Dan Deslandes (nine wins), Kevin Switzer Jr. (six wins) and Bruce Ranger (five wins).
Horses that have started from Cumberland’s post position four have won 16 of 48 total races, or one-third of all the events. Post three is a close second with 14 victories.
There will be a double draw on Tuesday, April 19 for Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, which includes the rich finals for all three Kick-Off Series Late Closing events.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)