Top New England reinsman Bruce Ranger steered Broadway Giant to victory in the $6,000 Open I Trot at Cumberland on Monday (Dec. 20), which was part of the nine-race card postponed from Sunday.
Leaving from assigned post four, Ranger wasted little time getting Broadway Giant to the top in a :30.2 first quarter, on a track rated ‘slow’ by the judges. While continuing his tempo-setting pace of 1:02.2 and 1:33, there was never an anxious moment for the seven-year-old son of Broadway Hall.
Owned and trained by Ron Patione, Ranger let the trotter roll down the stretch to cruise to a four-length victory in 2:04.2.
Broadway Giant was a close second betting choice and paid $5 to win. And Up We Go (Mike Stevenson) finished second and Caulfield (Drew Campbell) was third. The 4-1 Exacta paid $19.40.
The $4,800 Open III Trot was a romp by Eternal Faith and Drew Campbell, who drew off to win by 14 lengths for owner/trainer Brian Lamb in 2:03.4. When favourite Ubanji made a costly break in the second turn, Midnight Zette (Andy Harrington) was able to avoid the traffic trouble to be second. L Dees Yoyo Ma (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third. Eternal Faith paid $9.40 to win.
Trainer Chris DuBois and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. teamed up for a troika conquest, including taking the late double. Leading drivers Bruce Ranger and Drew Campbell continued their quest for dash-winning supremacy, with the former winning one and the latter gathering two victories to establish another tie in the driver standings with 68 all.
Racing resumes Wednesday (Dec. 22), which is the date of the finals for the $10,000 Rick Cushing Memorial and the $15,000 Fred Nichols Memorial Late Closers. Post time is 11 a.m.
(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)