Bangor, ME — In Australian rules football, the nineteenth man generally begins the match as a benchwarmer. Consigned to ride the pine, he awaits his turn on the pitch to perform either mop up duty or to provide the spark needed to put his team over the top. And while role players are necessary cogs and the most accomplished ones are valued commodities, the goal of every understudy is to earn star player status.

Nineteenth Man A, an Australian-bred Standardbred who was recently imported stateside by the Ron Cushing/Heidi Gibbs Stable, certainly made a convincing case for first string status on Sunday (June 25) after a powerful upper-class score over a lightning quick strip at Bangor Raceway.

Nineteenth Man A and driver Ron Cushing impressed in 1:54.4 at Bangor Raceway. Thomas Smith photo.

Fresh off a 1:56.4 cakewalk in his U.S. debut at First Tracks Cumberland, driver Cushing confidently fired his charge off the gate, only to encounter a stern early challenge from the pole-sitting Call Me Maverick (Michael Stevenson). The duo matched strides to well past the eighth-pole before Cushing relented to Stevenson’s insistence, reining his charge back to a tight pocket seat as the duo reached the quarter-pole through a torrid :27 clip.

Cushing was relentless in pursuit though, aggressively pulling Nineteenth Man A to re-engage, as Stevenson throttled back Call Me Maverick to a decelerating :57.2 clocking at the half.

Now engaged in a battle of wills, the iron-sided steeds matched strides through an eye-popping :27.4 third panel, reaching the three-quarter-mile marker mere wiskers apart, timed in 1:25.1, and with the final outcome far from decided, the ferocious combatants never lost contact with each other throughout an epic dash to the finish.

In sports as in life, there are winners and losers, and despite the best efforts of an unrelenting Call Me Maverick, it was Nineteenth Man A carrying his team to victory on Sunday, stopping the clock in a lifetime best 1:54.4, while taking two full seconds off his previous benchmark. PBR Street Gang (Bruce Ranger) rallied smartly to finish second by three-quarters of a length while Call Me Maverick faded ever so slightly for third.

Trained by Gibbs, Nineteenth Man A, a 5-year-old son of Captaintreacherous, is owned in partnership by Cushing, Kevin Sywyk and Lance Downs.

The win was one of two on the program for the connections as earlier Havehorswiltrvel N (1:58.3-$5.20) took top honors in Bangor’s $5,500 Open trotting event.

In other Bangor news, drivers Andy Hanrrington, Nick Graffam and Ranger joined Cushing by posting two wins each while conditioner Chris Lefebvre matched Gibbs’ training double.

The $25,000 Fred Nichols Invitational has been scheduled for Sunday (July 2) as the top New England pacers will gather at historic Bass Park to contest the second renewal of the marquee event which honors the memory of the longtime Bangor Raceway executive and official.

Maine Sire Stakes action also returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (July 2) when the 3-year-old filly pacing division makes their second northern circuit appearance of the season.

Bangor Raceway proudly presents live harness racing every Wednesday with post time at 3 p.m. (EDT) while the popular Sunday matinees get underway at 12:15 p.m.