Cushing lights up the ridge

Mitchell Cushing turned in a dominant week at Plainridge Park, earning Driver of the Week honors after a standout stretch of harness racing from May 25 through May 29.

Cushing recorded 10 wins from 25 starts, along with 1 second and 2 third-place finishes, finishing the week with a 52% in-the-money rate, a 0.449 UDR, and $94,710 in earnings. For the season, he now sits 3rd in the driver standings with 29 wins, while also adding 6 training victories on the year.

The week started strong on Monday (May 25) with a driving double, guiding Exceptionalism ($4.40) for trainer Julia Eaton and Peter Petrify N ($5.80) for trainer Edwin Quevedo.

On Tuesday (May 26), Cushing delivered a driving hat trick with wins aboard Pantofolaio ($2.80), along with Grateful ($5.80) and Chapere ($4.80), both trained by Mario Dessureault.

Thursday (May 28) was a signature day, as Cushing rattled off three straight victories, including the featured $27,500 Open Pace with Binge On Yankee, blazing the mile in 1:49.4. He also captured the $25,000 conditioned pace with Alex Having Fun (1:50.2), before completing the natural hat trick with Hes Coming On ($4.80), who set a lifetime mark of 1:50 flat for trainer Julia Eaton and owner George Anthony Jr.

He closed the week Friday (May 29) with a driving double, highlighted by the feature win with Th Kay C Crunch ($3.40) for trainer Jimmy Nickerson and owner Joe Trice.

A huge week at the Ridge for Mitchell Cushing—consistency, speed, and big-money drives all around.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday (June 1) at 4 p.m. and there will be a $26,713 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in the sixth race.

By Glen McNeil for the Harness Horseman’s Association of New England, Inc