June 26, 2025 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)

BANGOR, ME – The second week of the Maine Sire Stakes witnessed Mike and Ron Cushing each capture an 11,900-plus division on Wednesday (June 25) at Bangor Raceway with their own 3-year-old pacing fillies.

In the first $11,927 division for sophomore distaffs, Chasing Dudes (5-1, Nick Graffam) blasted out for an early lead, followed in the pocket by the favorite Leanne Marie (3/5, Mike Cushing), with Thinkin Bout Life (43-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) forced to forge ahead to the front from the outside.

The field of fillies reached the quarter in :30.4 prompting Leanne Marie to pull from third position and take the lead just before the group were sent around the paddock turn.  Off the bend brother Ron Cushing pulled Glorilla (8/5) first over and made chase through the 1:02.1 half.

Glorilla was rough-gaited through the third turn which prompted Wishin For Kisses (16-1, McGwire Sowers) to tip three wide from his second over position.  However, Leanne Marie was still firmly in command through the 1:31.4 third panel and had opened a ten length lead over the rest of the pack.

Down the lane, it was a race for second as Mike Cushing hand-drove the daughter of Artistic Fella under the wire in 2:01.4 to score by four lengths.

Trained and co-owned by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing with partners Pamela Smith and Jane Dipompo, the triumvirate also bred the filly.  She paid $3.20 to win the third race of her career for the Cushings, which pushed her lifetime bankroll to $57,484.

Thinkin Bout Life finished second; Chasing Dudes was a close third.

The second $11,926 division of the Maine Sires Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies went to the elder Cushing brother, Ron, who steered his heavy 1/9 favorite Lysiun to an easy victory.

Scoring from post four, Ron Cushing was parked to the opening quarter in :29.1 by a flurry of activity on the inside.  Once the dust settled Whisper Of Luck (9/2, Sowers) had taken point briefly, but was soon overtaken by Lysiun before the three-eighths marker.

Heading to the 1:00 half, the outer flow began but was soon thwarted by the increased tempo and a short-lived brush down the backside and into the 1:29.4 third stanza.

Down the lane it was all Lysiun who drew away from the field and won by four lengths in 1:59.2.

Also owned by Ron Cushing, the daughter of Dude’s The Man is trained by Heidi Cushing and was bred by Lynne-Marie Plouffe.  She paid $2.20 and is now a perfect three-for-three on the season.

Whisper Of Luck finished second; Ruff Dude’s Jena (99-1, Dave Ingraham) was third.

Looking ahead, Saturday’s (June 28) program at Cumberland Raceway has two $12,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carded as races two and four with a first post of 3:15 pm. 

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com