CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. pulled off a clean sweep of the Maine Sire Stakes on Friday (July 25) at Cumberland Raceway, en route to winning five races over the course of the entire 12-race harness racing program.

In the featured pair of $11,623 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, all eyes were upon the unbeaten Real Horrorshow (1/9, Switzer Jr.) as the freshmen standout was looking for his third straight victory in his Pine Tree State-bred division.  The son of Dude’s The Man did not disappoint as he sprung from the gate and never looked back.

Arriving at the opening station in :29.3, the followers Daytoremember (7-2, Heath Campbell) and Wowzah Clousah (19-1, Mike Cushing) scurried to keep up the pace from their respective second and third positions.

Heading into the softer 1:01.1 half mile marker the parked out Dude’s The Jet (20-1, McGwire Sowers) had ranged his way up to challenge in second.  Down the backstretch Real Horrorshow (Dude’s The Man) let out a notch with Daytoremember right on his helmet, while Dude’s The Jet succumbed to that good Downeast air following a 1:30.2 third panel.

Rolling down the stretch Daytoremember made it a horse race as he stayed within a few steps of the pacesetter.  However Real Horrorshow showed that he is the real thing as he stayed focused and paced to a new lifetime best 1:59.1, winning by 1-1/2 lengths.

REAL HORRORSHOW REPLAY

Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., he paid $2.20 as the heavy favorite.  He was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum.

Wowzah Clousah hung on for third.

In the other $11,623 division for male freshmen sidesteppers the Tardif Taskforce came loaded for bear and proceeded to hit the 2-3-1 Trifecta ($13.00).

Ghost Of Winter (3-2, Switzer Jr.) took the field to the :29.4 opening panel, with Deuces Red (12-1, Nick Graffam) parked on the outside of Nuh Uh (3/5, Aaron Hall) as the field continued through the first circuit.  Past the 1:00.4 mid-way point, not much had changed, and by the 1:31 third panel Deuces Red was still parked and pulling the ear plugs.

Around the final turn driver Andy Harrington pulled Quint Asper (11-1) three wide around stalling cover to engage the leaders.

Down the lane Ghost Of Winter drifted out a bit allowing Nuh Uh up the inside and the pair battled down stretch.  Under the shadow of the wire the pacesetter got a little steppy but managed to prevail by a scant quarter length in 2:01.4 over Nuh Uh.

GHOST OF WINTER REPLAY

 

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property, the son of Deuce Seelster picked up his maiden victory along with a new time badge.  He paid $5.00 to win and was bred by Kristina Hall.

Marc Tardif was also the trainer of second place finisher Nuh Uh, as well as Silence Ofdarkness (23-1, Sowers) who got up for third.

Jax Spratt won the featured $5,500 conditioned trot in 2:01.1.  Trained and driven by Aaron Hall for owner Bill Phipps, the 5-year-old son of Devious Man paid $9.00 to win.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers by winning a total of five races on the program.

Looking ahead to Saturday (July 26) all the Maine-bred trotters converge upon Cumberland for six $11,000-plus divisions for both 2- and 3-year-olds of both genders.  Post time is the regular  3:15 pm.

Sunday’s (July 27) special 12 noon card welcomes two $11,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers, as well as six individual $6,000 End of Summer Pop Up series legs with finals going on closing day (Aug. 2) for $8,000.

As always, there is a Trifecta in all races, and the program also features a plethora of exotic wagers.  Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.  Saturday (July 26) brings a $720.05 carryover in the Pentafecta.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue through August 2.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland