Sports Teen fastest in Polar Express Series

CUMBERLAND, ME – Dakota “Action” Jackson’s Sports Teen (Sportwriter) captured the fastest of four $6,000 elimination harness racing divisions of the Polar Express Late Closing series # 3 on Sunday (Dec. 4) at Cumberland.

Driven by Ron Cushing for trainer/owner Jackson, the 6-year-old rushed right out from post three to take command of opening panels in 27.4 and 58.4.  Mr Blissfull (Aaron Hall) sat in the two-hole while Terror Hall (Wally Watson) and wagering favorite Kick The Dirt Up (Matt Athearn) were first and second over, respectively.

With Sports Teen enjoying a comfortable margin at the 1:28 third stanza, driver Steve Wilson sensed a stalling of the outer flow and moved Touch Of Character three-wide down the backside in an attempt to decrease his lengths behind the leader.  At the head of the stretch Cushing found another gear and sprinted off to score by 6-3/4 with Sports Teen in 1:58.2.

Sports Teen paid $7.20 to win the 26^th race of his career, and will be looking forward to the rich $15,000 final on Sunday (Dec. 18).  Touch Of Character finished second; Terror Hall was third.

SPORTS TEEN REPLAY

The other three $6,000 Polar Express legs were captured by: Swellendam (Kevin Switzer Jr., 1:59.4, $12.00 to win); Twin B Impressive (Bruce Ranger, 2:00.4, $5.40); and Commondiscourtesy (Matt Athean rn, 2:00, $35.60).

The $6,500 Open 2 Trot was a wire-to-wire romp for Life Well Lived (Muscle Mass), who captured the opener for driver Kevin Switzer Jr. in 2:01.3.

Trained by Billy DuBois for owner Gordon DuBois Sr., the 8-year-old paid $6.40 to win.  Broadway Giant (Ranger) finished second; Sidd Finch (Nick Graffam) was third.

LIFE WELL LIVED REPLAY

Track record holder Cherry Crown Jewel (RC Royalty) picked up the 41^st win of her career, cruising to a 2:03 victory in the $5,500 Open 3 Trot.  Driven by Mark Athearn and trained by Gretchen Athearn, the 10-year-old paid $8.00 to win for owner Bill “Yarmouth Lumber” Phipps.  And Up We Go (Ranger) finished second; Little Macabee (Hall) was third.

Leading reinsman Bruce Ranger picked up three wins on the card and continues to sit on top of the talented Cumberland driver’s colony with 60 seasonal victories.  Kevin Switzer Jr. is in second place with 49 trips to the Blue Seal Winners Circle, following his own hat trick on Sunday.  Matty “Ice” Athearn and Walter Case Jr. are tied for third place with 46 wins apiece.  The leading conditioner of the meet is Chris Lefebvre with 28 wins.  Benson Merrill and Lisa Watson are tied for second in the trainer’s standings with 20 victories each.

Racing resumes Friday (Dec. 9) and continues through the weekend with the second legs of the three distinct Polar Express Late Closing series.  Cumberland’s extended pari-mutuel harness racing meet runs through December 24, 2022, with the first post at 11 am each day.

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For complete race results, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland