July 26, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. pulled off a clean sweep of the Maine Sire Stakes on Friday (July 25) at Cumberland Raceway, en route to winning five races over the course of the entire 12-race program.
In the featured pair of $11,623 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, all eyes were upon the unbeaten Real Horrorshow (1/9, Switzer Jr.) as the freshmen standout was looking for his third straight victory in his Pine Tree State-bred division. The son of Dude’s The Man did not disappoint as he sprung from the gate and never looked back.
Arriving at the opening station in :29.3, the followers Daytoremember (7-2, Heath Campbell) and Wowzah Clousah (19-1, Mike Cushing) scurried to keep up the pace from their respective second and third positions.
Heading into the softer 1:01.1 half mile marker the parked out Dude’s The Jet (20-1, McGwire Sowers) had ranged his way up to challenge in second. Down the backstretch Real Horrorshow let out a notch with Daytoremember right on his helmet, while Dude’s The Jet succumbed to that good Downeast air following a 1:30.2 third panel.
Rolling down the stretch Daytoremember made it a horse race as he stayed within a few steps of the pacesetter. However Real Horrorshow showed that he is the real thing as he stayed focused and paced to a new lifetime best 1:59.1, winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., he paid $2.20 as the heavy favorite. He was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum.
Wowzah Clousah hung on for third.
In the other $11,623 division for male freshmen sidesteppers the Tardif Taskforce came loaded for bear and proceeded to hit the 2-3-1 Trifecta ($13.00).
Ghost Of Winter (3-2, Switzer Jr.) took the field to the :29.4 opening panel, with Deuces Red (12-1, Nick Graffam) parked on the outside of Nuh Uh (3/5, Aaron Hall) as the field continued through the first circuit. Past the 1:00.4 mid-way point, not much had changed, and by the 1:31 third panel Deuces Red was still parked and pulling the ear plugs.
Around the final turn driver Andy Harrington pulled Quint Asper (11-1) three wide around stalling cover to engage the leaders.
Down the lane Ghost Of Winter drifted out a bit allowing Nuh Uh up the inside and the pair battled down stretch. Under the shadow of the wire the pacesetter got a little steppy but managed to prevail by a scant quarter length in 2:01.4 over Nuh Uh.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property, the son of Deuce Seelster picked up his maiden victory along with a new time badge. He paid $5.00 to win and was bred by Kristina Hall.
Marc Tardif was also the trainer of second place finisher Nuh Uh, as well as Silence Ofdarkness (23-1, Sowers) who got up for third.
Jax Spratt won the featured $5,500 conditioned trot in 2:01.1. Trained and driven by Aaron Hall for owner Bill Phipps, the 5-year-old son of Devious Man paid $9.00 to win.
Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers by winning a total of five races on the program.
Looking ahead to Saturday (July 26) all the Maine-bred trotters converge upon Cumberland for six $11,000-plus divisions for both 2- and 3-year-olds of both genders. Post time is the regular 3:15 pm.
Sunday’s (July 27) special 12 noon card welcomes two $11,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers, as well as six individual $6,000 End of Summer Pop Up series legs with finals going on closing day (Aug. 2) for $8,000.
As always, there is a Trifecta in all races, and the program also features a plethora of exotic wagers. Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts. Saturday (July 26) brings a $720.05 carryover in the Pentafecta.
Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.
First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue through August 2.
