December 9, 2023 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (JOE SHAW PHOTOS)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Veteran reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on Friday (Dec. 8) at First Tracks Cumberland, winning five races on the 11-race program, including half of the six divisions of the first leg of the Gingerbread Late Closing series.
Wasting little time, Switzer got the party started in the opener with Readyfortheladys who sat a two-hole trip behind favorite Miss U Big Mike (Dan Deslandes) and popped out to win the first $4,800 Gingerbread in 1:58.2. Owned and trained by Eric Bickmore, the 5-year-old son of Always A Virgin paid $9.40 to win.
Collusion Illusion (Walter Case Jr.) finished second, with the aforementioned favorite hanging on to be third.
Under sunny skies Switzer continued his assault on the finish wire, grabbing the early double with Novella Seelster in 1:58.4. The 4-year-old daughter of Sportswriter is trained by Mike Stevenson, owned by Dana Whittemore, and paid $3.00 to win that $4,000 conditioned pace.
In the second $4,800 Gingerbread division Switzer copped a natural hat trick with Bet On Joe. Coming from off the pace, the 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight posted the fasted mile of the day, scoring in 1:57.3. Owned by Sharon Goding and trained by Bob Marston, punters cashed a $13.00 ticket.
Always A Mystery (Dan Deslandes) finished second; He Can Rock (Aaron Hall) was third.
Switzer’s fourth victory came aboard No Humble Jumble (2:01, $12.20) for owner-trainer Wilbur Brown. Then ‘Mr. Hot Hands’ came right back in the following race to finish out his quintet with Rockinwitharythm in 2:00. Paying $31.60 in the fifth Gingerbread div., the 4-year-old son of Rockin Image gave trainer Mike Stevenson his second win on the card.
Wagering favorite Head Of The Table (Aaron Hall) finished second; Cache All The Way (Steve Wilson) was third.
In other news, bettors who support young talent have found up-and-coming driver Garrett Mosher to be sort of a ‘cash cow’ on Friday. Mosher, the 34-year-old son of veteran New England reinsman Gary Mosher, won the fourth race with Amarittigone which paid $18.00 for trainer Hunter Moody. Then he came right back in the next race to win with his own Ultimate Flyer N in 1:57.4, paying $39.60. Benson Merrill was the conditioner in that Gingerbread div.
Aaron Hall won the remaining two Gingerbreads, scoring with his own Lucan Hanover (1:58, $2.40) and his dad’s (Craig Hall) Mr Blissfull (1:58.3, $13.60). The purse for this series will increase to $5,500 next week with a $10,000 final on Christmas Eve. The series drew a total of 46 entrants for the preliminary round.
Racing continues Saturday (Dec. 9) at Cumberland.
The Winter Festival continues at First Tracks Cumberland with our ‘December to Remember’ three-day weekends of racing. The entire holiday month enjoys a three-peat of Friday-Saturday-Sunday programs. First post is a now few minutes earlier, slated for 10:55 am each day.
Racing at Cumberland continues three days each week through Christmas Eve, 2023.
For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/
Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.
