Five-year-old pacer Art Of Endurance has been on a winning streak that started U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, and could very well continue through Christmas. Picking up his fourth win in a row on Saturday, Dec. 16 at First Tracks Cumberland, the Benson Merrill trainee is prospering in the colder climate of wintertime racing in Southern Maine.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. in all of his recent triumphs, the relatively young son of Artspeak won both of his legs of the Rudolph Series. His 1:59 triumph in Saturday's $6,000 second leg was the fastest division and an effort where he came from off the pace and was uncovered going into the final turn to win by three lengths.
The week before he was sitting sixth back 7-1/4 lengths going down the backside the final time. When Switzer Jr. unleashed him, he uncorked a :29 final quarter to win by a length in a seasonal best 1:56.
“We always said that he had the ‘endurance’ but never the ‘art,’” quipped his leading conditioner Benson Merrill. “But I think he has found it. He is tricky to drive but we think Kevin has found the key.”
Owned by John and Thelma Kiernan and Thomas Bemont, Art Of Endurance earned the 14th win of his career and push his lifetime bankroll to $76,536. He paid $2.60 to win.
Merrill, Cumberland’s second leading trainer in dash wins with 27, is stabled on a farm in Augusta with 16 head. He enters next week’s $10,000 Rudolph final with the likely favourite in Art Of Endurance.
The only other horse to win both of his Rudolph legs is Tim McMiki. Driven by Bruce Ranger for trainer Randy Bickmore, the five-year-old son of Always B Miki grabbed Saturday's other division in 1:59.2. Owned by Emery Pelletier, he also won for the 14th time in his life while his earnings now exceed $128,000. He paid $3 to win.
The swiftest race of the day went to PBR Street Gang in rein to Aaron Hall in 1:57.4. The $6,000 conditioned pace was the second win in three starts for the Sara Harrington-owned and trained son of JK Endofanera. He paid $10.80 for the victory.
Hall, Ranger and Switzer Jr. each enjoyed driving doubles on the program.
There is a $259 Pentafecta High-5 carryover going into the Sunday, Dec. 17 card, which also features divisions of the $6,000 Holly Pace and $6,000 Jack Frost Trot late closers. Race six on Sunday carries the $4,400 seventh and final leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) race, with a $6,000 winter final slated for Sunday, Dec. 24. As always, the MADC events are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of North Yarmouth and Windham.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)