A pocket trip was the winning formula for Armagedon Seelster in the $8,219 featured trot at First Tracks Cumberland on Friday, April 26.
When the wings folded, 2-1 slight second choice J S Peyton (Dan Deslandes) dashed right out for the lead from post two, with Kevin Switzer Jr. pushing Armagedon Seelster swiftly out into the centre of the track from post six to muscle his way into the two-hole.
Slender favourite Motto (Bruce Ranger) was unable to get into gear and trailed the field through the :28.2 opening panel. Heading to the :58.3 half, the only horse in the outer flow was Elegant Dulupin FR (Dave Ingraham), who had a lot of ground to make up from sixth.
As the field approached the 1:27.4 third stanza, Armagedon Seelster had tipped off the helmet of J S Peyton and was poised to pounce. Around the final turn, Switzer’s charge looked the leader right in the eye and then went right on by as the pair trotted home to victory by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1. Knight Angel (Aaron Hall) got up for second and J S Peyton hung on for third.
Owned by P T Stable (Patrick Tortorello) and trained by Candace Brandstatter, the nine-year-old son of Muscle Mass earned his 22nd career victory. Paying $9.80 for his third win of the season, Armagedon Seelster increased his lifetime earnings up to $339,385.
Switzer Jr. nearly captured a natural grand slam, three of which being trotting races. He won the fifth race with Power Mitt (1:58.3, $4.60), sixth with Pretty Gorgeous (1:58.1, $9.40), the aforementioned seventh with Armagedon Seelster and came back to grab the ninth with Caulfield (2:02.2., $2.40).
Drew Campbell and Dan Deslandes each enjoyed driving doubles on the program. Jeff Deslandes and Bob Marston both harnessed a pair of winners.
Racing resumes on Saturday, April 27 with a full, 12-race card, including the third leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club. Going postward as Race 3, the 5-2 favourite is Furious Beach with owner-driver Michael Girouard leaving from post five. The $6,849 event is faithfully sponsored by the helpful folks at Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.
The $8,219 featured pace (Race 9) has Runrunjimmydunn N as the early 9-5 favourite with Kevin Switzer Jr. aboard from post three. Railbird PBR Street Gang (Nick Graffam) is the second choice, listed at 2-1.
Every race carries a 50-cent trifecta and the card also carries a host of 20-cent superfectas, a 50-cent pick 4 and the final race delivers a 20-cent pentafecta (super high five) with a low 16 per cent takeout.
Post time for both days is set for 3:15 pm.
Looking ahead to next week, the public can watch and wager on the 150th renewal of the Run for the Roses from Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. The highly anticipated Kentucky Derby is next Saturday, May 4, with programs, big screen television viewing and betting all available at the fairgrounds, provided by First Tracks Cumberland. In addition, a new and improved snack bar has opened on the premises in an effort to give fans a hearty selection of food and drink options.
(First Tracks Cumberland)