May 18, 2024, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed his second grand slam of the season at Cumberland Raceway on Friday (May 17), winning a third of all the races on the action packed 12-race card.
Switzer wasted little time getting started, winning the opener with the trusty mare Pretty Gorgeous. A winner of 4 of her last 5 starts, the 7-year-old daughter of I’m Gorgeous controlled the tempo from the start and never looked back, scoring in 1:56.2 by a measured 1-1/2 lengths. Trained by Benson Merrill for owners John and Thelma Kiernan, the consistent lass paid $4.40 to win the $5,500 event and picked up her 20th lifetime victory.
Now that the grass is growing tall through the longer days in Southern Maine, the Tardif Taskforce is back in town and rolling out some of their promising young horses for a taste of stone dust before the upcoming stakes season. One filly to watch is the winner of the third race, Ghost Of You.
Now 3, and while making her first seasonal start the homebred daughter of Deuce Seelster handily put away a group of older mares in convincing fashion. Leaving from post three, Switzer got shuffled back to sixth at the start while allowing the front-end tusslers to beat each other up. Pulling third-over down the backside, the filly had the momentum while rolling through the turn and was positioned third by the head of the stretch. When the dust settled coming down the stretch Ghost Of You prevailed by a tight quarter length over Post Time Terror (Dan Deslandes) in 2:00.3.
Trained by Mark Tardif for owner-breeder Leighton Property, she paid a whopping $42.20 to win her first start of the season.
Switzer won the 6th race with Pembroke Booboo by another close quarter-length over Foxy Trotting Stick (Nick Graffam) in 2:00.4. Owned and trained by Jason Leal, the 5-year-old daughter of Pembroke Slugger paid $15.60 to win her first start of the year.
The driving grand slam culminated with Switzer’s 11th race victory while guiding Two Fold Cold to a wire-to-wire rout in 1:59.4. The sophomore pacing gelding paid $2.80 to win his first start of the fresh season. A standout in the Maine Sire Stakes last year at 2, he was a winner of 4 of 9 while earning $42,849, and is still owned and trained by Mark Tardif, who picked up his second training win of the day. Two Fold Cold was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.
The Tardif Taskforce also grabbed the place position with the Western Maverick colt Thru The Fire, who was driven by Walter Case Jr.
Nick Graffam picked up a pair of driving wins with June Parker (1:59.1, $9.00) and 2023 Maine Sire Stakes Champion South St Dottie (1:59.2, $3.20).
Harness racing action resumes on Saturday (May 18) where horse racing enthusiasts can also watch and wager on the race known as the ‘Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.’ First Tracks Cumberland is proud to offer full-card simulcasting from Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, which includes the 149th renewal of the $2,000,000 Preakness Stakes.
Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will attempt to capture the second leg of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown, looking to become the first horse to complete a sweep of the three signature stakes races since Justify in 2018.
Doors open at 12 noon on Saturday (May 18) with a host of wagering, food and beverage options available all day. Live harness racing kicks off at 3:15 pm.
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. Post time is always 3:15 pm.
For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/
