Luke McGook scores at First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was reunited with Maine’s 2023 sophomore pacing champion Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World), with the pair easily capturing Saturday’s (Nov. 18) featured $5,000 conditioned pace at First Tracks Cumberland.

Scoring from post two, the 3-year-old was sent right to the top and proceeded to make every Mike Cushing-call a winning one. On a moist track Switzer Jr. set fractions of :29, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 while maintaining better than a length advantage.

At the head of the stretch the colt was given his head and had four lengths on the field. As the field slipped away behind the Benson Merrill-trained quarter-million-dollar winner, the pair tripped the timer in 1:59.2, scoring by 11 open lengths. Owned by Leighton Property, it was the tenth victory of the season and pushed his seasonal earnings to $110,479.  Luke McGook paid $2.20 to win.

Always A Mystery (Bruce Ranger) finished second; Rambling Ruby (Aaron Hall) was third.

LUKE MCGOOK REPLAY

Driver Drew Campbell hit a grand slam on the Saturday card, starting the day winning the opener with My Mind Is Made Up (Mister Big, $3.80, 1:59.2, trainer Michelle Lefebvre), and continued with victories driving The Shining (Custard The Dragon, $5.00, 1:59.2, Kimberly Vafiades); Checksinthepuddin (Check Six, $19.80, 2:04.1, Brian Lamb); and Reys N A Ruckus (Mattarocket, $4.80, 2:00.3, Eric Bickmore).

Racing continues at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 19) with an 11 am post time. First Tracks Cumberland in Maine races Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of November and will transition to three days each week (adding Fridays) beginning December 1 and continuing through Christmas Eve, 2023.

For the third season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 23. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing or retired and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program. Equine honorees must be present to participate and must ‘declare’ by Dec. 6.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

For more information go to our website.

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

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland