Cumberland, ME – Conditioner Zach Vickerson had three horses racing on Sunday (Nov. 30) at First Tracks Cumberland, and he won with all three.
In the third race $5,000 featured pace, top teamster Kevin Switzer Jr. sent heavy 1-9 favorite Rock Candy out to an early lead, but so did McGwire Sowers with the 6-1 Vel Mr Nice Guy. Switzer Jr. re-took just past the :28.4 opening panel and never looked back.
Guiding the field through a softer 1:00 mid-way point, the first to move was Spicey P (18-1, Steve Wilson), who advanced all the way to second while first-over at the 1:28.3 third station.
Under a hand drive, Rock Candy exploded at the head of the stretch to gain the advantage over a fast-closing Vel Mr Nice Guy. The pacesetter prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.
Owned by trainer Vickerson, the 9-year-old son of Pet Rock returned $2.20.
Time For George (Dave Ingraham) finished third.
Vickerson and Switzer Jr. also teamed up for the swiftest race of the day when Rau Ru held off a late charge by Instant Replay (2-1, Shawn Thayer) to complete a wire-to-wire circuit in 1:57. Vickerson owns the 7-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight, who paid $3 in the sixth race, winning the $4,800 conditioned pace by a head.
The Vickerson and Switzer Jr. duo came back in the 11th race, $4,600 pace to fashion a third gate-to-wire rout, scoring with Sheriff N in 2:01. Once again owned by Vickerson, the 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight was the heavy 1-9 favorite and returned $2.20 for his measured-length triumph.
In other news, James Doucette captured the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event with his own Ahoy Hanover. Trained by Autym Sowers, the 4-year-old son Captaintreacherous was parked the last half and wore down the 4-5 favorite Never Say Never N (Todd Whitney), who cut the fractions. Tripping the timer in 1:58.3, it was the second victory of the season for the 25-year-old Doucette. Ahoy Hanover returned $4.60.
Leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. added to his monstrous lead in the driver standings, steering a total of five winners on the 13-race program. Switzer Jr. now has 104 wins this year at Cumberland, double that of his nearest competitor McGwire Sowers, who has 52. Aaron Hall and Steve Wilson each grabbed a pair while Dave Ingraham got to within one win of his 8,000th victory.
Horsemen are reminded to check the new condition sheet and our website for a host of exciting Winter Pop-Up Series for the month of December. Boasting up to $179,000 in purses, the races have increased prizes, as well as consolations and finals, for the six different events available.
Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) beginning Dec. 5. The Au Revoir Retirement ceremonies are slated for Saturday, Dec. 20. Entries close Wednesday (Dec. 3).
The 18-day meet runs until Dec. 21. Post time remains 10:55 a.m. (EST).
For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/. Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.