Just before the college band played the iconic song, "My Old Kentucky Home" at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 4, So Rock N Roll played a familiar tune of his own: winning another race at First Tracks Cumberland.
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite in rein to So Rock N Roll, perennial leading driver Bruce Ranger was content to let a bevy of anxious pacers leave swiftly from the start in the $8,219 featured pacing contest. Ranaldi (Drew Campbell) set a scorching :28.4 bee-line for the quarter pole from post four, with Lexus Witha View A (Nick Graffam) grabbing the two-hole. Bet On Joe (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was a bit more relaxed in third position with Ranger ducking So Rock N Roll back down to the pylons in fourth.
While Drew Campbell thought he could give Ranaldi a :59.1(:30.2) half-mile breather, that slower pace prompted Ranger to pull first over and offer his melody to the leader. Because every action causes a reaction, Nick Graffam popped the two-hole with Lexus Witha View A, who swept up and looked Ranaldi right in the eye at the 1:27.2 third panel.
Even though So Rock N Roll enjoyed some brief cover down the backside, Ranger pulled three-wide on the outside around the final turn and gained momentum with every stride. As the field turned for home, the favourite increased his tempo and danced away from the rest of the band in 1:57, prevailing by 1-1/2 lengths. PBR Street Gang (Aaron Hall) charged home to be second and Bet On Joe finished third.
Trained by Larry Dancer for owner/breeder Leighton Property, the four-year-old son of Western Maverick picked up his third win of the season in just six starts. The Massachusetts Sire Stakes graduate now has 14 career victories and just shy of $270,000 in earnings through 43 starts lifetime. He paid $3.40 to win.
Michael Girouard won a $6,849 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) event with his own Furious Beach in 2:01.3. Scoring from post six, he was parked the last half and boldly paced three-wide down the backside to catch pacesetting favourite Premier Joy A (McKenzie Sowers) and win by 2-1/2 lengths. He paid $9.20 to win. The MADC is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham, Maine.
Bruce Ranger and Kevin Switzer Jr. both enjoyed driving doubles and trainer Larry Dancer also picked up a pair of victories.
Racing resumes at the Southern Maine harness racing facility on Friday, May 10 with a 3:15 pm post time.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)