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 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) as the freshman standout was looking for his third straight victory. 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 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. Wowzah Clousah hung on for third.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., Real Horrorshow paid $2.20 as the heavy favorite. He was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum.
In the other $11,623 division for rookie male 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) 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 midway 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 the 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.
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.
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 p.m.
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.