June 28, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Real Horrorshow was able to get back into the win column with a victory at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (June 27) after surviving a thrilling, stretch-long battle with Rebel’s Revenge in the second leg of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Last season’s Pine Tree State-bred freshmen champion Real Horrorshow had never tasted defeat until last week when Rebel’s Revenge sat a pocket trip and stormed down the lane to catch the colt with the previously unblemished record in his first start of the year.
Fast forward a week and the script was the same in the $15,434 Maine Sire Stakes event where Real Horrorshow was, once again, bet down to the heavy favorite at 1-5. Regular pilot Kevin Switzer Jr. sent him right out from the start, blazing to an early lead. Second choice and last week’s victor Rebel’s Revenge (9-5, Aaron Hall) ducked into the pocket and proceeded to give chase through a :29.1 opening panel and a softer 1:00 half.
Rebel’s Revenge was headstrong in the garden spot while heading down the backside the final time, with the pacesetter hitting the third panel in 1:29.2 and looking to gain some separation. Off the turn Hall tipped Rebel’s Revenge and began to apply steady pressure on the leader. Gaining ground with every stride the pair were locked in another furious clash down the stretch, with Rebel’s Revenge advancing within a neck of Real Horrorshow.
For the respective connections, the race was a real nail biter–right down to the wire, but ultimately the day belonged to Real Horrowshow who showed the necessary grit and fought back to retain the lead and split the beam in 1:58.2, a new lifetime best.
Trained by the senior Kevin Switzer, who also co-owns with Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., the son of Dude’s The Man returned $2.40 for his first win of the season. He was bred by Luke and Patricia Varnum, and now has $110,664 in lifetime earnings.
Dude’s The Jet (Dave Ingraham) finished third.
In the other $15,659 division the early morning line favorite Daytoremember (9-5, Heath Campbell) rolled out aggressively to take command from post six. From that point the son of Dude’s The Man set comfortable fractions of :29.2 and 1:00 to the mid-station.
Down the backside and heading to the third stanza Itsjustmoney (5-1, Switzer Jr.) maintained a tight pocket as the favorite hit that marker in 1:29.3. Around the turn the aggressor tipped and began to gain ground on the leader. As they turned for home the pair were neck and neck with the momentum favoring the outside swinging Itsjustmoney who had a full head of steam.
With nothing but racetrack in front of him Itsjustmoney overpowered Daytoremember to break his maiden and score by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:58.4.
Owned and trained by Marc Tardif the son of Thirty Two Red got his first win in 12 lifetime starts. Bred by Bobbi Jean Carney, he returned $13.20.
Deuces Red (Mike Stevenson) got up for third.
Driver Aaron Hall started his day with a score aboard Maggie At Bat (1:57.3, $11.40), which was his 1,000th career victory. Hall won two more on the afternoon program with Zoes Precious RN (2:00, $19.00) and Head Of The Table (1:59.1, $12.60). Kevin Switzer Jr. also enjoyed three wins on the program.
