December 16, 2021 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The second round of three elimination legs of the Fred Nichols Memorial Late Closing Series went postward at First Tracks Cumberland on Wednesday (Dec. 15), with two new victors and one repeat winner visiting the Blue Seal Winners Circle.

The first $5,000 division was a wire-to-wire romp for Sanattle Slew and driver Dan Deslandes.  The meet’s third leading reinsman put the 10-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip on the front end from post five, and never looked back.  Scoring in 1:58.3 by 3-3/4 lengths, it was Sanattle Slew’s fourth victory in his last five starts.

Trained by Karl Butterfield for owner Jose Cerventes, Sanattle Slew paid $6.00 to win.  Cool Jack (Aaron Hall) finished second; Through The Fence (Drew Campbell) was third.

The second div. went to repeat winner Obscene Blue Chip and driver Matt Athearn.  Starting from post six, the 7-year-old son of Western Ideal had the best view of favorite Mach Diesel (Bruce Ranger) cutting fractions of 28.2, and 58.2 to the half.  Southwind Terror (Nick Graffam) was the first to pull first over, with Obscene Blue Chip (Athearn) enjoying that second over cover into a 1:27.2 third quarter.

Matt Athearn urged Obscene Blue Chip down the lane and squeaked out the win by a nose in 1:59.2 over King Royalty (Kevin Switzer).  Mach Diesel (Ranger) finished third by a neck.

Trained by Kenneth Secord for owner Cris Wescott, Obscene Blue Chip paid $6.00 to win.

The third and final division of the Fred Nichols was captured by So It Goes and Nick Graffam who got up in the final strides to win by a nose over favorite Commondiscourtesy (Drew Campbell) in 1:58.4.

Trained and co-owned by Brian Lamb with Mona Dodd, So It Goes lit up the tote board, paying $62.00 to win.

Named for the man that was instrumental in keeping Maine’s Harness Racing Industry alive, Nichols wore many hats in our industry, including, but not limited to USTA director, race secretary and promotions director.  The top eight money earners (listed below) that raced in both legs and subsequently enter will qualify for the $15,000 final on Wednesday, December 22.

Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed two driving wins on the program.  Bruce Ranger and Drew Campbell each had one win on the card, which was enough to keep the former in first place by one victory over the latter, in the on-going battle for Cumberland’s top dash-winning reinsman.

Racing resumes once again on Saturday (Dec. 18) and Sunday (Dec. 19), post time for all race dates is 11:00 a.m.

Our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues with live harness racing several days each week through December 31, 2021, which is also the date of our special retirement ceremonies for 14-year-old Standardbred horses.

For more information, go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com.

FRED NICHOLS MEM. POINT STANDINGS

1)        $5000      OBSCENE BLUE

2)        $3750      COMMONDISCOURTESY

T-3)     $3100      SANATTLE SLEW

T-3)     $3100      THROUGH THE FENCE

T-5)     $2500      COOL JACK

T-5)     $2500      SO IT GOES

T-7)     $1850      MACH DIESEL

T-7)     $1850      PO PO DEE

9)        $1250      KING ROYALTY

T-10)   $1000      JOEY THE THIRD

T-10)   $1000      TAIL HOOK

T-12)     $650      BET ON SUCCESS

T-12)     $650      REAL SANCHO

14)        $500      MOONSHINECHARLEIGH

T-15)     $400      SOUTHWIND TERROR

T-15)     $400      TOE TAG

17)        $250      ROCKAHOLIC

December 15, 2021 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Andrew Harrington swept the early Daily Double which included the first div. of the second leg of the Rick Cushing Memorial on Tuesday (Dec. 14) at Cumberland.

Harrington grabbed the two-hole from post three with Amarettigone which saw pylon position leaver Rojas Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson) cut sensible fractions of 29.2, and 1:01.1 to the half.  Once the outer flow started with Manhattan Express (Drew Campbell) first over, the combatants were ‘two-in’ and ‘four-out’ as the field passed the three-quarters in 1:31.1.

Sitting in the catbird seat, Harrington never had an anxious moment when he found racing room in deep stretch to score with the 7-year-old Real Desire mare in 2:02.4 on a track rated ‘good.’

Trained by Hunter Moody for owner Patricia Moody-D’Angelo, Amarettigone paid $12.40 to win.  Rojas Blue Chip finished second, Manhattan Express was third.  The 3-1 exacta paid $26.80.

The second div. of the Rick Cushing Memorial went to Jo Pa’s Sweet Lou in 2:01.4.  Trained and driven by the husband and wife team of Lisa and Wally Watson, the 5-year-old son of Sweet Lou is owned by Mark Jacoff. 

Jo Pa’s Sweet Lou paid $24.60 to win.  Mr Wiggle Pants (Drew Campbell) finished second, Bettoriffic (Matt Athearn) was third.  The 5-2 exacta paid $43.10.

Safety Second was the only horse to repeat, taking the third div., and winning back-to-back legs of the Rick Cushing Memorial.  Dan Deslandes smoked the field by over 14 lengths to stop the timer in 2:00.1.  Safety Second paid $2.40 to win.  Whatchagonnadoboo (Aaron Hall) finished second; Pembroke Ranger (Luke Varnum) was third.

Trained by Karl Butterfield, and previously owned by Barry Franklin, Safety Second was claimed from the last leg by Charles “Butch” Eaton for $4,000, and will surely be the favorite for the final.

Roderick “Rick” Cushing of Wilton, Maine was a well-respected trainer & driver for over 40 years on the New England circuit, and is also the late-father of Mike and Ron Cushing, who have carried on the family’s commitment and passion for Maine harness racing.  The top eight money earners (listed below) that raced in both legs and subsequently enter will qualify for the $10,000 final on Wednesday, December 22.

Bruce Ranger also had two wins on the program, which puts him one victory ahead of Drew Campbell in the on-going battle for Cumberland’s top dash-winning reinsman.

Racing continues on Wednesday (Dec. 15) and then resumes once again on Saturday (Dec. 18) and Sunday (Dec. 19), post time for all race dates is 11:00 a.m.

Our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues with live harness racing several days each week through December 31, 2021, which is also the date of our special retirement ceremonies for 14-year-old Standardbred horses.

For more information, go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com.

RICK CUSHING MEMORIAL EARNINGS STANDINGS

(For all horses that raced in both legs and eligible for final)

        1)     $ 4,000      Safety Second

        T-2)  $ 2,480      Bettoriffic

        T-2)  $ 2,480      Pembroke Ranger

        4)     $ 2,200      Jo Pa’s Sweet Lou

        T-5)  $ 2,000      Amarettigone

        T-5)  $ 2,000      Mr Wiggle Pants

        T-5)  $ 2,000      Whatchagonnadoboo

        8)     $ 1,320      Lucky Michael

        9)     $ 1,200      Rojas Blue Chip

        10)    $   960      Manhattan Express

        11)    $   800      Redbreast Hanover

        12)    $   640      Invictus Hanover

        13)    $   520      Bolt Ruler

        14)    $   480      Baileys Legacy

        15)    $   400      Star Of Terror

        16)    $   320      Zampara

        17)    $   200      Ima Tragedy N