Chasing Dudes extends win streak to four

CUMBERLAND, ME – The two top sophomore pacing fillies displayed their divisional harness racing dominance by each taking a $17,201 split of the Maine Sire Stakes on Wednesday (Sept 24) at the Cumberland Fair.

In the opener, driver Nick Graffam was content to allow Chasing Dudes to ease into the four hole while Whisper Of Luck (Andy Harrington) blasted out for the lead and did all the heavy lifting on the front end.

The pacesetter put up fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.1 to the half while opening five lengths on the rest of the field.  Down the backside, and with plenty of ground to recover, the 1/5 favorite Chasing Dudes moved off the pegs first over to challenge for the lead.

Past the 1:29.1 third station, and gaining ground with every stride, the daughter of Dude’s The Man had her work cut out for her but managed to catch Whisper Of Luck by mid-stretch.  The pair battled down to the wire with Chasing Dudes prevailing by three parts of a length in 1:59.1.

CHASING DUDES REPLAY

Trained by Mike Graffam who co-owns with breeder Bob Marston, it was the tenth career victory and fourth straight for the earner of $172,221 lifetime.  She paid $2.40 and heads to the sophomore finals at Bangor on Oct. 11 as the season’s second leading point winner in the division.

Lysiun (Ron Cushing) finished third.

Leanne Marie, who sits atop that same leaderboard, also displayed her group governance as driver Mike Cushing sent her on a pillar-to-post tour of the Cumberland facility, tripping the timer in a pedestrian 2:01.1.

Trained by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing who co-owns and shares breeder credit with partners Pamela Smith and Jane DiPompo, the daughter of Artistic Fella now has nine lifetime wins and grabbed her third in a row, returning $2.60.

LEANNE MARIE REPLAY

Based upon how the filly draws, she will likely be the favorite for the upcoming final on Oct. 11.

Glorilla (Aaron Hall) finished second; Ruff Dude’s Jena (Dave Ingraham) finished third.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers on the afternoon program with five wins.

‘Double-Digit’ Dave Ingraham lived up to his Gabe Prewitt-bestowed moniker by scoring with local star Airspinder in the $5,200 conditioned pace and paying a whopping $105.60.  Owned and trained by David Sawyer, the 9-year-old son of No Spin Zone went from next to last to first to earn his 36^th lifetime victory.

Racing resumes at 1 pm at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Thursday (Sept. 25) with full cards scheduled for the remaining racing dates through Sunday (Sept. 28).

Post time drops backs to 12:00 noon for the remaining weekend dates of Friday through Sunday (Sept. 26-28).

Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race, and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with the 3-year-old male pacers on Thursday (Sept. 25), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Sept. 26).

Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 Est. Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, September 27, with two freshmen pacers, Real Horrorshow and Snowonthepines, putting their unblemished records on the line in their respective showdowns.

First Tracks will also host the popular Cumberland Derby where fans can enter to win $500 in total cash prizes based on their picks and the official order of finish in the designated race.

After the fair, the track’s 18-day Winter Festival begins November 2 and then follows a two-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  The month of December picks up Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 21.  Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 20.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland