Cushing’s Ranaldi upsets in 3yo race

CUMBERLAND, ME – Ron Cushing started Saturday (July 16) with somewhat of an upset harness racing victory, capturing the first non-wagering race, a $12,479 Maine Breeders Stake (MSBS) with his home-bred 3yo Western Maverick gelding Ranaldi.

Although there was no betting at First Tracks Cumberland on this early race, the likely favorite would have been the unbeaten Deal With It Roman, who came into the event with three MSBS stakes wins to his credit this season.  Trained by Marc Tardif, and also by Western Maverick, he won the Maine Sire Stakes Championship last year at age two.

Last week Ranaldi finished third despite broken equipment, which was a gaiting pole that had come unfastened and added a little speed to the horse. Veteran reinsman Cushing recalls, “I went to pull the ear plugs and the strap broke and the gaiting pole ended up between the colt’s legs.  It didn’t hurt him, but when he heard the banging when it hit the ground he stepped into high gear, but never made a break.”

Named after Cushing’s friend and Australian horse sales agent Frank Ranaldi, in his two previous starts the horse has been a very consistent second, beaten just fractions of a length.

Cushing noted, “He’s a big, strong horse and seems to be improving with every start.”

Ranaldi has been holding his own, staying right with the rest of the glamour boys, and just patiently waiting for the right trip.  Saturday (July 16) became that day as the breeder/owner/driver came from off the pace in an eight horse field to win by a neck, getting up in the final strides over Deal With It Roman (Kevin Switzer Jr.) in 1:59.4.

Use Yah Blinkah (Drew Campbell / Valerie Grondin) poked a nose in front at the head of the stretch but finished third, back half a length.

Ranaldi is trained by Heidi Gibbs and is from the Real Artist mare Fire Can Fly.

Saturday’s second and third non-wagering events featured two $11,000-plus MSBS races for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

The second early race saw a three-sweep by trainer Marc Tardif.  Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World) handled the Cumberland real estate with ease, cruising to a wire-to-wire score in 2:01, lowering his mark in the process.  Kevin Switzer Jr. drove the son of Rock N’ Roll World for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property.  Luke McGook is from the Artsplace mare Madonna Hanover and was bred in Maine by Erica Saucier.  He is now 3-for-3 on the season, having won last week’s MSBS at Bangor, as well as a Learn & Earn at Cumberland.

So Rock N’ Roll (Walter Case Jr.) finished second; Facemaskrequired (Andy Harrington) was third.  The top three finishers are all trained by the Tardif Taskforce.

The third and final non-wagering event saw Twice The Ice, a son of Deuce Seelster, perform cool under wraps for driver Walter Case Jr., scoring coast-to-coast in 2:01.4.  Twice The Ice is owned and trained by Marc Tardif, was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, and also lowered his mark over the swift Cumberland surface.  From the Bettor’s Delight mare Snow Cone A, Twice The Ice has now won both of his MSBS events.

Two Towns Over (Heath Campbell / Valerie Grondin) finished second; Rockaroundsam (Andy Harrington / Marc Tardif) was third.

Friday’s (July 15) Cumberland card included an $11,878 leg of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies, which was an early, non-wagering race.  Team Athearn grabbed this division with Janie, a daughter of Deuce Seelster, who went to the top and never looked back to score in 2:00.2, and is a maiden no more.

Driven by Mark Athearn and trained by Gretchen Athearn, Janie is owned by Bill “Yarmouth Lumber” Phipps.  Bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, Janie is from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Lightning Crashes.

The Maine-bred pacers were also Down East on Friday (July 15) with two more legs for 3-year-old pacing fillies on the regular program.

The first $11,461 division was captured by heavy favorite Pembroke Legacy (Baron Biltmore) in 1:59.1, who increases her unbeaten streak to four Maine Breeders Stakes.  Trained by Valerie Grondin and driven by Heath Campbell, the sophomore daughter of Baron Biltmore is owned and was bred by Bill Varney and now has ten lifetime wins.

From the American Ideal mare Pembroke Oasis, she paid $2.20 to win.

CBF Fin (Dave Ingraham / David Crochere) finished second; Mach Royal (Bruce Ranger / Scott Pooler) was third.

In the second $11,686 div. Wolverina (Cheyenne Hollywood) grabbed her second Maine-sired event, taking a new seasonal mark of 1:59.1 for driver Nick Graffam and trainer/co-owner Mike Graffam with Bill Arnold.  By the sire Cheyenne Hollywood, and from the Western Ideal mare Terri I Fra, Wolverina paid $4.60 to win.

Sweet Baby G (Bruce Ranger / Fred Ward) finished second; Um Ericka (Andy Harrington / Marc Tardif) was third.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website click here.