Harrington guides Married Man to victory

CUMBERLAND, ME – Married Man (Heston Blue Chip) took a vow of victory at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (May 23) when the pacer carried his harness racing driver Andy Harrington over the threshold of the $6,200 feature.

The $10,000 to $12,500 claiming handicap sidesteppers scuffled into the first turn with the 1-5 heavy favorite Jone Hanover (Kevin Switzer Jr.) taking the lead while leaving third choice Married Man (5-1) parked, who ultimately yielded into a blistering :27 opening panel.

Past the softer :56.3 half, Todd Whitney pulled Ys Do It Right (9-2) from fourth, which flushed the cover of Married Man who popped the deuce at the 1:25.3 third station.  Around the final turn the aggressor was breathing down the pacesetter’s neck and gaining ground with every stride.

Jones Hanover and Married Man battled valiantly down the stretch, with the latter reeling in the former to prevail in deep stretch by half a length in 1:55.2.

Driven by Harrington for trainer Bob Marston and owner Bob Kluchevitz, the 6-year-old son of Heston Blue Chip picked up his second win of the season and his fastest seasonal mark in the last two years.  Increasing his lifetime earnings to $149,654, they returned $12.60.

Ys Do It Right finished third.

MARRIED MAN REPLAY

Andy Harrington and Kevin Switzer Jr. each had three wins on the 13-race program.  There will be a Pick 4 carryover of $865.93.

Racing resumes Friday (May 29) when First Tracks Cumberland hosts their final Friday-Saturday racing schedule during the last week of May.  When we flip the calendar to June and the official start of summer, the schedule reverts back to Saturday-Sunday cards for the remainder of the meet.

Except for special occasions (Sat., June 6, Belmont Stakes), first post is 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

https://firsttrackscumberland.com/racing-info/

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland