June 11, 2023, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Stephanie Gray photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Something Bettor A didn’t let something like a broken headpole interfere with his first victory on Maine soil this season, as Ron Cushing valiantly steered his charge to triumph in the $5,500 featured conditioned pace at Cumberland on Saturday (June 10).
The Aussie-bred 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight had to get around a couple of leavers; Ry’s Red Rocket (Mark Athearn) who owned pylon starting position, and Grand Gallop Semalu (Dan Deslandes) who rushed out to grab the two hole from post six. Following a move just past the paddock draw gate, it started out as a routine afternoon stroll around the fairgrounds circuit for the heavily favored Something Bettor A.
After a swift 28 second opening panel, Cushing was able to control the tempo and get a 58.2 breather going to the half. Deslandes pulled Grand Gallop Semalu first over heading into a 1:27 third stanza, challenging Cushing for the lead. As Cushing’s Something Bettor A dug in through the final turn, and perhaps got ‘up in the riggin’ during battle, the racing halter ring failed and the head pole became unattached from the horse’s bridle.
Unfazed and unfettered while pacing down the stretch with the ‘inside’ headpole hanging sideways toward the pylons, the pair cruised to victory in 1:56.2 to take the opener by two lengths. Trained by Heidi Gibbs and owned by Cushing with Kevin Sywyk, it was the tenth victory of Something Bettor A’s career. He paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 public choice. Ry’s Red Rocket finished second; Art Of Endurance (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was a late closing third.
The Cumberland-based, husband and wife team of Mark and Gretchen Athearn got their first win of the Cumberland season with their own Mouthpiece, taking the $4,800 conditioned trot in 2:00. Mark Athearn drove the 8-year-old Maine-bred son of Noble Venture to his 30th career victory, paying $12.40 to win in the wire-to-wire score. Gretchen Athearn owns and trains the lifetime winner of $224,656.
Kevin Switzer Jr. moved closer to his 3,000 win benchmark, taking three races on the day’s program. The local reinsman is now just 12 scores away from that career driving threshold. After Switzer Jr., eight different drivers enjoyed victories on ‘Belmont Day.’ Bruce Ranger continues to lead all drivers with 29 wins, followed by Switzer and Nick Graffam who are tied for second with 26. The meet’s leading conditioner remains Chris Lefebvre with 17 wins.
Racing resumes Friday (June 16) featuring the Maine Sire Stakes 3-year-old pacing fillies. The Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes will make over a dozen stops at the Southern Maine oval over the course of the next few months. Established in 1972 by the 108th Maine Legislature, the program is now enjoying its 51st year of producing and promoting the competition of Maine bred and sired Standardbreds.
Every Saturday throughout the summer Cumberland will host racing from Belmont or Saratoga, culminating with the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day (Aug. 5) and a ‘Hambo’ hat giveaway.
Live harness racing continues at Cumberland throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 5.
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