Vafiades having fun with ‘once in a lifetime horse’

CUMBERLAND, ME – Kimberly Vafiades knows talent when she sees it.  For the last eight years the Maine native has harnessed the winners of nearly $2 million, averaging over $1,000 per start.  And while horses come and horses go, Vafiades (pronounced VAH-FEE-AH-DES) states that Alex Having Fun is a ‘once in a lifetime horse.’

The 7-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll Heaven has earned $368,607 lifetime, with the last $218,000 earned by owner-trainer Kimberley Vafiades.  His most recent victory was a homecoming of sorts.  On Sunday (Dec. 1) he won the featured $6,000 winners over pace at Cumberland in 1:56.2 with top reinsman Drew Campbell in the bike.

Although Kimberly Vafiades is the current owner and trainer, this was not the first time that she had her name on his registration.  He earned around $95,000 the first time the 57-year-old conditioner had the horse in her stable.

“We first bought Alex as a maiden for $12,000 when he was three,” Vafiades recalled.  “We sent him down to Yonkers to race and were offered $40,000 for him.  So we sold him.”

During his 5-year-old campaign he raced in Ontario and earned a little over $50,000 in 2022.  Then, much to Kimberly’s surprise, he was listed with OnGait.com during January of 2023.

“We were the only ones to bid on him,” Vafiades states.  “That was fortunate for us.  He is getting better with age!”

Getting better indeed, as the horse has picked up 15 of his 35 career victories while back living in Maine, but racing primarily at Plainridge.  “I think he is rewarding us for bringing him home,” she offered.  “Alex is a very special horse…he does nothing but try.”

With a time badge of 1:49.3f taken this year at Plainridge, Alex Having Fun comes by his talent honestly.  He is a half-brother to a pair of well-known million dollar-earning sires, Western Terror and If I Can Dream, and his second dam is the Hall of Fame and World Champion mare Delinquent Account.  This year is his most prosperous yet, with $128,195 earned while finishing 1-2-3 in 20 of 30 seasonal outings, it is clear that Alex likes his job.

“He likes his food too,” claims Vafiades, who is also his caretaker.  “We put three rocks in his feed tub to slow him down when he eats.”

While we are sure that Alex Having Fun has a home for life in Sydney, Maine, his biggest fan says, “He absolutely loves people, too!”

This is good since the Vafiades clan is still growing.  Kimberly has been married to her husband Steve for 31 years, and their daughter, Kristen, a cardiac nurse, just got married in June.  Their son Jared is also planning a wedding for next year.

The meet’s leading driver, Drew Campbell, had another pair of victories on the Cumberland card which gives him 28 for the Winter Festival meet and 5,996 lifetime.  Walter Case Jr., Nick Graffam, Aaron Hall and Kevin Switzer Jr. also reined doubles on the day.

Nick Graffam blew up the tote board with local pacer Timbo Slice, paying $123.40 to win in the $5,000 conditioned pace.  Benson Merrill went from pillar to post with Bet On Success in the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving club event, paying $4.00 to win in 2:00.4.

Racing resumes Friday (Dec. 6) when First Tracks Cumberland will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun).  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.  There will be a $813 carryover in the Pick-4 for next Friday.

This is the last call for entries for our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies, which are slated for Saturday, Dec. 21, please contact Chris Tully for more information.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland