Farmington, ME — Leanne Marie made the Cushings’ trip to the Farmington Fair a memorable one as their 2-year-old pacing filly prevailed in a close finish on Tuesday (Sept. 17) in the 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 favorite Whisper Of Luck and Kevin Switzer Jr. took the field to the opening panel in :30.4.
Shortly thereafter, Mike’s brother Ron Cushing rolled up to the point with Glorilla and led that group of freshmen distaffs to the half in 1:00.3, which was the cue for Mike to pull Leanne Marie from fourth to the outer flow and challenge the pacesetters.
At the three-quarter pole 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.
Trained and co-owned by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing with partners Pamela Smith and Jane Dipompo, the threesome are also the breeders of record. Paying $7.80 to win, it was Leanne Marie’s second lifetime victory.
The single division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies carried a purse of $19,671.
The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Farmington Fair with harness racing Wednesday (Sept. 18) with two divisions of 3-year-old male pacers, and continues through Friday (Sept. 20).
Looking ahead, four divisions of the Freshman Finals will be held at the Cumberland Fair on Saturday (Sept. 28).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, go to their website at www.mainesirestakes.com.