Driver Aaron Hall gave Amarettigone a tactically savvy steer to capture the $12,000 Polar Express Late Closer Series #2 final on Monday (Dec. 19) at Cumberland.  

The program was postponed from Saturday and included the Au Revior Retirement Showcase, which honoured 17 14-year-old Standardbreds as their racing days come to a close. But, on a day when older horses were the advertised stars, Bruce Ranger showed the Maine faithful that age is just a number, winning five-in-a-row and six races in total on the card.

Hall had Amarettigone out and moving early from post three, grabbing the front end just before the :28.3 opening panel. Favourite Rojas Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson), leaving from post eight, had no choice but to continue on the outside and push to the front. Clearing just before the second turn, Rojas Blue Chip led the charge where Road Untraveled (Nick Graffam) flushed the cover of Sunset Over Miami (Walter Case Jr.) heading into 1:00 half-mile marker on track rated ‘good.’

Past the 1:29.4 three-quarter stanza, the outer flow continued to apply pressure to the leader Rojas Blue Chip, who had managed to gain a little separation around the final turn. That little bit of daylight was all the wiggle room that Hall needed to slingshot Amarettigone off the turn and charge for the wire and win by 1-3/4 lengths in 2:00.4.  Rojas Blue Chip hung on for second and 14-year-old Dansan Carruso (Andy Harrington) was third.

The eight-year-old daughter of Real Desire is trained by Hunter Moody for owner Patricia Moody-D’Angelo. She paid $9.80 to win as she triumphed for the 24th time in her career.  

Sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds, the swag bucket trophy was presented to the winning connections by Aimee Nichols, on behalf of the Windham and North Yarmouth Blue Seal Feeds retail locations.

The day was a special occasion for horse owners throughout the Pine Tree State, as several dozen equine enthusiasts from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York converged upon the Cumberland Fairgrounds for the ‘Au Revior’ Retirement Showcase. 

Eighteen horses paraded in front of the grandstand under sunny skies while the announcer read a biography as fans bid farewell to each 14-year-old. Each horse had a half page bio in the program with a special photo and was presented with a custom designed plaque, hand-crafted and donated by the talented Barbara Dresser. As the horse and their connections posed for photographs in the winner's circle, it truly was a day to remember for all involved as each horse has their own unique history and special traits.

These equine athletes also look forward to their future as many will be living out their days with their proud owners or were re-homed to riding stables for a second career as hardy saddle horses. They were all beloved by their owners and trainers. Standardbreds love to work and it was evident as the proud steeds paraded before the grandstand with their ears up and their heads held high. 

Sporting impressive combined earnings of $5.3 million in purse earnings with an average of $312,312, these retiring or retired Standardbreds have a combined win total of 714 wins and have averaged 42 trips to the winner's circle.  All told, these horses have started an incredible 5,249 times. 

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Listed below are all the horses that were recognized, with their owners/trainers of record:

• Arsenal, p,6,1:50.3f, $594,598, Kelly Case
• Bettors Fire N, p,11,1:50.1f, $1,044,149, Ron Cushing, Kevin Swyck, Heidi Gibbs
• CJ Marshal, p,7,1:53.3f, $138,501, Scott Farley
• Creighton Hanover, p,5,1:51.4f, $413,587, Dennis Whittemore
• Dansan Carruso, p,7,1:57.3, $74,260, Dawn Rodney, Billy DuBois
• Forward Bliss, p,3,1:53.2z, $156,144, Stephanie & Adam Gray (pictured above)
• Intrepid Hall, p,4,1:50.4f, $359,191, Tracy Hiles, Bobby Melanson
• Jay Bees Grin N, p,8,1:52.4f, $264,493, Michel Bilodeau
• Lifeontherange, p,3,1:54.3f, $165,969, Shawn Gray, Kandace Niles
• Lucksgottachange, p,9,1:54.2f, $117,206, Michel Bilodeau
• Mc Rusty, p,7,1:51f,  $494,200, Kori Kinney, Dan Deslandes
• Milliondollardad, p,3,1:54.2f, $199,530, Dakota Jackson
• Personnel Space, p,9,1:53.2f, $232,894, Michael Girouard
• Rambling Jet, p,6,1:54.1f, $193,195, David Crochere
• Rideofalifetime, 9,1:59.1, $91,404, Karen Somerby, Roy Somerby
• Road Untraveled, p,5,1:49.1, $480,684, John and Thelma Kiernan, Benson Merrill
• Shamderock, p,6,1:51.3f, $289,298, Mark and Phyllis Liebowitz

Heading into the final week, the year’s leading reinsman, Bruce Ranger, showed no signs of slowing down and leads all drivers with 75 wins.  The 63-year-old native of Maine has 9,963 lifetime wins -- adding six to that total on the Monday card.  Walter Case Jr. enjoyed a hat trick on the day’s program as well and is tied for second place in the drivers standings with 55 victories.  The only event on the 10-race card that was not captured by these two drivers was the aforementioned Polar Express #2 final with Aaron Hall.

Racing resumes at Cumberland’s Winter Festival harness meet on Thursday. The final weekend of racing continues on Friday and concludes for the season on Christmas Eve Day, Saturday. Post time 11 a.m.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)