June 15, 2025 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)
CUMBERLAND, ME – Owner-driver Ron Cushing and trainer Heidi Cushing combined for a clean sweep of both $11,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (June 14) at Cumberland Raceway.
The first division witnessed prohibitive favorite Lysiun (1-9, Ron Cushing) give a first quarter retake to Leanne Marie (3-1, Mike Cushing) into a :29.3 split. Following that reshuffle, the sophomore daughter of Dude’s The Man made every call a winning one as she led the field through a softer 1:01 half and then a 1:30.2 third panel while increasing her advantage to a couple of lengths.
Around the final turn Leanne Marie closed the gap and turned the final charge into a horse race, getting to within a half-length of Lysiun under the shadow of the wire. The latter held on to the lead and the victory, scoring in 2:00.3 for her second win in a row.
Trained by Heidi Cushing, and owned by her driver, she was bred in Maine by Lynne-Marie Plouffe. She paid $2.20 to win, Wishin For Kisses (19-1, Walter Case Jr.) finished third in the opener.
In the second $11,000 sophomore filly pace Ron Cushing steered his own Glorilla (6-5) to a hard fought victory in race three.
When the wings folded top Cumberland reinsman McGwire Sowers urged Whisper Of Luck (8-5) out to an early lead, with Audry (5-1, Steve Wilson) protecting position in second leaving Glorilla hung out to dry on the outside.
With nowhere to go but forward Cushing pressed Glorilla to the front, finally clearing after a :30.2 opening panel. The tempo eased through the second turn amid a softer 1:01.3 half, which prompted Steve Wilson to pop Audry out of their three hole spot just before the 1:31.3 third stanza and challenge for the lead.
The pack raced in tight quarters around the final turn, and down the lane Audry pressed the pacesetter on the outside while Whisper Of Luck looked for racing room up along the pylons.
Glorilla held on to win by half a length in 2:02.3, equaling her lifetime best. She is trained by Heidi Cushing, while being owned and driven to victory by Ron Cushing, the 3-year-old daughter of Dude’s The Man paid $4.60 to win.
Whisper Of Luck finished second; Audry was third.
Looking ahead, Sunday’s (June 15) Bangor program has three $11,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old trotters. Two of which are raced before the regular card at 11:30 am, and the third in race three on the regular card with a first post of 12:10 pm.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
