September 25, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Mocha On The Rocks overpowered his foes to take the $6,000 featured pace on Tuesday (September 24) at the Cumberland (Maine) Fair.
Dismissed at 10-1, the 7-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance was rushed off the gate and dropped into the four hole by driver Heath Campbell. 9-5 favorite Forrest Blu (Kevin Switzer Jr.) led the field into a sizzling 27 second opening panel, with Grand Galop Semalu (Andy Harrington) sitting the pocket.
Driver Walter Case Jr. tipped Instant Replay out at the softer 57.2 half-mile marker, which gave some cover to Heath Campbell and Mocha On The Rocks.
Down the backside with the outer flow stalling, an impatient Drew Campbell pulled Stop Staring three-deep into that 1:26.1 third stanza. With that racing move waning in its intended purpose, the younger Campbell snuck out on the apex of the turn and swooped the leaders to rally down the stretch and score by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.
Trained and co-owned by Valerie Grondin with partners William and Rhoda Underhill, it was Mocha On The Rocks’ 15th lifetime win, and pushed him over the six-figure mark to $100,018 in career earnings. He paid $23.00 to win.
Grand Galop Semalu finished second; Forrest Blu hung on for third.
Kevin Switzer Jr. (Salute America, 1:59.4, $3.80; Twin B High Tech, 1:57.3, $5.80) and Aaron Hall (Search By The Sea, 1:56.4, $7.20; Thruway, 2:02.3, $2.60) each picked up a pair of driving doubles on the eight-race program, which helped keep the reinsmen at the top of the Cumberland Fair drivers standings. After three cards, Aaron Hall leads with six wins, Switzer follows with five, and Harrington and Case each have three.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Cumberland Fair with 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 25), and then rolls into the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 26), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 27). The 2-year-old finals will be held on Saturday (Sept. 28).
Racing continues at the Cumberland Fair on Wednesday (Sept. 25), with the live harness action starting at 1:00 pm (new post time) for the remainder of the week through Saturday (Sept. 28).
The Sunday (Sept. 29) card has a special post time of 10:55 am for that final racing date.
After the fair, the track’s 19-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November. The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22. Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.
For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/
