Kevin Switzer, Jr. has the hot hands at Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing driver Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed a grand slam at First Tracks Cumberland on Friday (April 26), which included a pocket-trip score with Armagedon Seelster (Muscle Mass) in the $6,000 featured trot.

When the wings folded 2-1 slight second choice J S Peyton (Dan Deslandes) dashed right out for the lead from post 2, with Switzer Jr. pushing Armagedon Seelster swiftly out into the center of the track from post 6 to muscle his way into the 2-hole.

Slender favorite 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.

Owned by P T Stable (Patrick Tortorello) and trained by Candace Brandstatter, it was the 22^nd career victory for the 9-year-old.  Paying $9.80 for his third win of the season, the score brought Armagedon Seelster’s lifetime earnings up to $331,305.

Knight Angel (Aaron Hall) got up for second; J S Peyton hung on for third.

ARMAGEDON SEELSTER REPLAY

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) which has a full, twelve-race card, including the third leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club.  Going postward as race 3, the 5-2 favorite is Furious Beach with owner-driver Michael Girouard leaving from post 5.

The $5,000 event is faithfully sponsored by the helpful folks at Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

The $6,000 featured pace (race 9) sees Runrunjimmydunn N as the early 9-5 favorite with Kevin Switzer Jr. aboard from post 3.  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 our 20 cent pentafecta (super high five) with a low 16% 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 150^th renewal of the Run for the Roses from Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.  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 Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 3.

For additional information, visit our website here, or find us on social media here

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland.