Heath Campbell nails four-bagger at Bangor

Bangor, Maine … Harness racing driver Heath Campbell knocked it out of historic Bass Park at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (May 29) scoring a grand slam in the win column while hitting the board with eight of his nine driving appearances.

Campbell commenced with a pocket-sitting journey behind the Eric Bickmore trained Rambling Ruby (Betting Line) in 1:58.1. Drafting behind the heavily favored Moonlight Androses (Dan Deslandes), Campbell pounced at the head of the lane, out sprinting his cover to the wire, a mere 1/2-length the best. The win was the second in the past three weeks for the four-year-old mare. She paid $10.00 to win.

RAMBLING RUBY REPLAY

Trainer Mark Harris geared up Campbell’s next conquest as Excellent Chance (Mannart Howard, 2:00.4-$10.60) scored her 39th career win. Sent smartly to the front by the confident teamster, the pair strolled through evenly rated fractions before holding the late-charging field at bay, striding 3/4-length the best at the wire, with all six combatants bunched up and clearly visible within the photo finish camera’s print.

EXCELANT CHANCE REPLAY

In a power move reminiscent of his namesake, The Hulk (All Bets Off) won in 1:59.3 as he muscled his way to the top through an indefensible quarter-pole move before toying with the competition like a cat would mice. Sitting chilly in the seat, Campbell looked unworried while controlling the tempo on the point, with he and The Hulk seemingly prepared to ride for miles on the lead without being headed.

Trained by Bangor’s top UTRS conditioner, Kim Vafiades (.852), the four-year-old took a brand-new lifetime mark while claiming his second career victory. He paid $3.60 to win.

Campbell concluded his four-bag performance with yet another confident score, gliding gate-to-wire behind Pembroke Danny Boy (1:59.1-$3.60), securing the third seasonal win for the Valerie Grondin trainee who remains undefeated thus far in 2024.

With the four driving wins, Campbell moves into a second-place tie with Aaron Hall on the Bangor leaders’ board with 13 seasonal wins apiece. The pair sit five wins behind Bangor’s top-rated teamster, Dan Deslandes, who scored three driving wins himself on Wednesday’s card.

Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer season every Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) with the Sunday morning matinees going to post bright and early at 11:00 a.m. Simulcast wagering is available daily in the grandstand facility.

For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, please visit the website.

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

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway