So Rock N’ Roll nails down another at Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Just before the college band played the iconic song My Old Kentucky Home at Churchill Downs Saturday (May 4), So Rock N’ Roll (Western Maverick) played a familiar harness racing tune of his own: winning another race at First Tracks Cumberland.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, perennial leading driver Bruce Ranger was content to let a bevy of anxious pacers leave swiftly from the start in the $6,000 featured pacing contest.  Ranaldi (Drew Campbell) set a scorching 28.4 bee-line for the quarter pole from post 4, with Lexus Witha View A (Nick Graffam) grabbing the 2-hole.  Bet On Joe (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was a bit more relaxed in third position with Ranger ducking So Rock N’ Roll back down to the pylons in fourth.

While Drew Campbell thought he could give Ranaldi a 59.1 (30.2) half-mile breather, that slower pace prompted Ranger to pull first over and offer his melody to the leader.  Because every action causes a reaction, Graffam popped the two-hole with Lexus Witha View A who jumped up and looked Ranaldi right in the eye at the 1:27.2 third panel.

Even though So Rock N’ Roll enjoyed some brief cover down the backside, Ranger pulled three-wide on the outside around the final turn and was gaining momentum with every stride.  As the field turned for home the favorite increased his tempo and danced away from the rest of the band in 1:57, prevailing by 1-1/2 lengths.

Trained by Larry Dancer for owner-breeder Leighton Property, the 4-year-old picked up his third win of the season in just 6 starts.  He paid $3.40 to win and pushed his lifetime bankroll to $265,791.

SO ROCK N’ ROLL REPLAY

PBR Street Gang (Aaron Hall) charged home to be second; Bet On Joe finished third.

Michael Girouard won the $5,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event with his own Furious Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) in 2:01.3.  Scoring from post 6, he was parked the last half, and boldly paced three-wide down the backside to catch pacesetting favorite Premier Joy A (McKenzie Sowers) and win by 2-1/2 lengths.  He paid $9.20 to win.

The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.

FURIOUS BEACH REPLAY

Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. both enjoyed driving doubles, and trainer Larry Dancer also picked up a pair of victories.

Racing resumes at the Southern Maine harness racing facility on Friday (May 10) with a 3:15 pm post time.

First Tracks Cumberland Spring/Summer meet continues 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