Jax Spratt cleaned up the featured $7,639 conditioned trot on ‘Good Friday’ (April 18) at Cumberland Raceway, winning his first start of the season.
When the gate sprung in the afternoon’s third race, trainer-driver Aaron Hall sent his charge out to the front lickety split, following a miscue of the pylon-sitting 6-5 favourite Casanova Hall.
As the field rolled past the paddock for the first time, McGwire Sowers popped the deuce with Gemstone Pillar and assumed command into a :30.1 opening panel. Around the three-eighths pole, Drew Campbell pulled Casanova Hall to the outside in an attempt to reel in the leaders. Following that cover through the 1:02.2 half was Little Macabee Kevin Switzer Jr.).
The field had tightened significantly, with tempo-setting Gemstone Pillar finding Casanova Hall at his throat latch while passing the third stanza in 1:32.3. Little Macabee was still poised to pounce second over, while Jax Spratt sat patiently locked in the box.
Around the final turn and heading for home, the tiring leader drifted out a bit which allowed Hall to skim the cones with Jax Spratt and get up by a length for the victory in 2:03.4.
Owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps, the five-year-old son of Devious Man paid $7.80 to win his first race of the year. He was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock and picked up his 20th career victory, increasing his lifetime earnings to $132,507.
Little Macabee rallied late to be second; Casanova Hall was third.
Aaron Hall, Nick Graffam and McGwire Sowers all had driving doubles on the Friday program, with trainers Andy Harrington and Autym Robinson each harnessing a pair of winners.
(with files from First Tracks Cumberland)