Leanne Marie made the Cushings' trip to the Farmington Fair a memorable one as their two-year-old pacing filly prevailed in a close finish on Tuesday, Sept. 17 in the $26,582 Maine Sire Stakes.
Leaving from post three, the daughter of Artistic Fella settled into third position for driver Mike Cushing, who can sometimes be heard calling the action instead of creating it. Track announcer Mike Sweeney performed those duties as favourite Whisper Of Luck and Kevin Switzer Jr. took the field to the opening panel in :30.4.
Shortly thereafter, Cushing’s brother Ron rolled up to the point with Glorilla and led that group of freshman distaffs to the half in 1:00.3, which was the cue for Cushing to pull Leanne Marie from fourth to the outer flow and challenge the pacesetters.
At the three-quarter pole, announcer Sweeney stated that the brothers could be seen "duking it out and were mere whiskers apart as they matched strides" at that 1:31 third panel.
Around the final turn, Leanne Marie took command with Chasing Dudes and Aaron Hall poised to pounce on the outside as they turned for home. Battling down to the wire, the fillies were noses apart, with Leanne Marie winning by a neck in 2:01.3, a new lifetime best. Chasing Dudes finished second and Whisper Of Luck was third.
Paying $7.80 to win, Leanne Marie earned her second lifetime victory in nine starts.
Trainer Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing and co-owners Pamela Smith and Jane Dipompo are also the breeders of record.
The Maine Sire Stakes program is celebrating it’s 50th year of competition, highlighting the Standardbred colts and fillies that have been bred, foaled and raised to race. Not only has the series attracted thousands of fans over the years, but has been a centerpiece of the pari-mutuel county fair racing that has thrived in the New England region. The Maine Sire Stakes program is vital to the economic development and farmland preservation of the area, having resulted in a total capital investment in breeding stock, equipment, buildings, etc. of over $9 million over a five year period.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Farmington Fair through Friday, Sept. 20.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)