Cumberland, ME — Fairgrounds-based trainer/driver Mike Stevenson captured another $5,000 elimination leg of the Polar Express Late Closing Series #2 with Rojas Blue Chip on Saturday (Dec. 10) at Cumberland, and now leads the pack for next week’s $12,000 final.

Rojas Blue Chip scored another impressive victory on Saturday at Cumberland. Stephanie Gray Photo.

Scoring from post five, Stevenson hustled the 5-year-old daughter of American Ideal right to the top, and never looked back.  Tripping the timer in 2:00.3, the duo prevailed over Bet On Success (Bruce Ranger) by half a length.  Dansan Carruso (Drew Campbell) finished third.

Owned by David Del Pozzo, Rojas Blue Chip paid $2.80 to win her eighth race of the season, and was the public’s first choice.

In the second $5,000 elimination leg, favorite Amarettigone (Kevin Switzer Jr.) also went on a wire-to-wire tour of the iconic Maine oval, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:01.  An 8-year-old daughter of Real Desire, Ammarettigone paid $4.80 to win for owner Patricia Moody-D’Angelo.  It was the mare’s 33^rd lifetime victory.

Sunset Over Miami (Walter Case Jr.) finished second; Celebrate Your Bet (Andy Harrington) was third.

The top eight money-winning horses from the two Polar Express # 2 eliminations (that enter) will move on to the final on Saturday (Dec. 17).  Rojas Blue Chip was the only horse to win both of her elimination legs, with Amarettigone and Bailey’s Legacy both winning one.

The featured $5,800 Open 4 Pace was captured by classy veteran Lucan Hanover in 1:57.4 in remarkable fashion.  Leaving from post five with driver/trainer/owner Aaron Hall aboard, the 12-year-old son of Western Ideal got shuffled back to sixth and was over twelve lengths from the front at the 28.3 opening panel set by a front-running Oceanview Echo (Case Jr.).

As the strung-out field passed the half in 59.1, Lucan Hanover had found some cover and was steadily advancing toward the headstrong leader.   Moving toward the 1:28.1 third stanza Lucan Hanover had closed the gap considerably and was sitting comfortably in the two-hole while Nagle (Ranger) was challenging the leader who had come back to reality.

Rounding the turn for home Lucan Hanover rolled out three-wide and set his sights on the middle of the racetrack, gobbling up the home stretch and gaining on the leaders with every stride.  At the wire, it was the odds-on favorite by half a length.  Nagle finished second; Oceanview Echo hung on gamely to be third.

Lucan Hanover is owned and trained by Aaron Hall, who also steered him to his 64^th lifetime score.  He paid $3.60 to win.

Top reinsman Bruce Ranger enjoyed three victories on the late-morning, early-afternoon program.

Racing resumes Sunday (Dec. 11) with three $6,000 elimination legs of the Polar Express L/C # 3.  In the first division, two of last week’s victors, Swellendam (Switzer Jr.) and Commondiscourtesy (Drew Campbell), look for a repeat performance.

In the second division, Nets Of Passion (Dave Ingraham) is the 5-2 favorite, and along with Touch Of Character (Steve Wilson), they both look to make the final after second place finishes last week.

In the third and final division, another pair of last week’s winners seek victory.  Both Twin B Impressive (Ranger) and Sports Teen (Switzer Jr.) will be searching for the spotlight.

Every race has a 50-cent Trifecta, and the final race each day also features a 20-cent Pentafecta.

The popular Au Revior Retirement Showcase for 14-year-old Standardbreds is slated for Saturday, December 17 and boasts 18 total participants with one ‘Geriatric Pace’ event scheduled with a full field of soon-to-be retirees.

The extended pari-mutuel harness racing meet runs through December 24, 2022 with the first post at 11 am each day.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

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