Driver Andrew Harrington swept the early Daily Double, which included the first division of the second leg of the Rick Cushing Memorial on Tuesday (Dec. 14) at Cumberland.
Harrington grabbed the two-hole from post three with Amarettigone, which saw pylon position leaver Rojas Blue Chip (Mike Stevenson) cut sensible fractions of :29.2 and 1:01.1 to the half. Once the outer flow started with Manhattan Express (Drew Campbell) first-over, the combatants were ‘two-in’ and ‘four-out’ as the field passed the three-quarters in 1:31.1.
Sitting in the catbird seat, Harrington never had an anxious moment when he found racing room in deep stretch to score with the seven-year-old Real Desire mare in 2:02.4 on a track rated ‘good.’
Trained by Hunter Moody for owner Patricia Moody-D’Angelo, Amarettigone paid $12.40 to win. Rojas Blue Chip finished second and Manhattan Express was third. The 3-1 exacta paid $26.80.
The second division of the Rick Cushing Memorial went to Jo Pas Sweet Lou in 2:01.4. Trained and driven by the husband and wife team of Lisa and Wally Watson, the five-year-old son of Sweet Lou is owned by Mark Jacoff.
Jo Pas Sweet Lou paid $24.60 to win. Mr Wiggle Pants (Drew Campbell) finished second, Bettoriffic (Matt Athearn) was third. The 5-2 exacta paid $43.10.
Safety Second was the only horse to repeat, taking the third division and winning back-to-back legs of the Rick Cushing Memorial.
Driven by Dan Deslandes, Safety Second smoked the field by over 14 lengths to stop the timer in 2:00.1. Safety Second paid $2.40 to win. Whatchagonnadoboo (Aaron Hall) finished second and Pembroke Ranger (Luke Varnum) was third.
Trained by Karl Butterfield and previously owned by Barry Franklin, Safety Second was claimed from the last leg by Charles “Butch” Eaton for $4,000 and will surely be the favourite for the final.
Roderick "Rick" Cushing of Wilton, Maine was a well-respected trainer and driver for more than 40 years on the New England circuit, and is also the late-father of Mike and Ron Cushing, who have carried on the family’s commitment and passion for Maine harness racing.
The top eight money-earners (listed below) that raced in both legs and subsequently enter will qualify for the $10,000 final on Wednesday, Dec. 22.
Bruce Ranger also had two wins on the program, which puts him one victory ahead of Drew Campbell in the on-going battle for Cumberland’s top dash-winning reinsman.
Racing continues on Wednesday (Dec. 15) and then resumes once again on Saturday (Dec. 18) and Sunday (Dec. 19). Post time for all race dates is 11 a.m.
Rick Cushing Memorial Earnings Standings
(For all horses that raced in both legs and eligible for final)
1. $4,000 - Safety Second
T-2. $2,480 - Bettoriffic
T-2. $2,480 - Pembroke Ranger
4. $2,200 - Jo Pas Sweet Lou
T-5. $2,000 - Amarettigone
T-5. $2,000 - Mr Wiggle Pants
T-5. $2,000 - Whatchagonnadoboo
8. $1,320 - Lucky Michael
9. $1,200 - Rojas Blue Chip
10. $960 - Manhattan Express
11. $800 - Redbreast Hanover
12. $640 - Invictus Hanover
13. $520 - Bolt Ruler
14. $480 - Baileys Legacy
15. $400 - Star Of Terror
16. $320 - Zampara
17. $200 - Ima Tragedy N
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)