Five-horse photo at Bangor

Bangor, Maine …  The photo finish camera was put through its paces during the third race at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (June 16) as five harness racing horses reached the finish line within the scant margin of a neck of each other and with the outcome nearly impossible to decipher with the naked eye.

Rose Run Slider (Western Terror) strode contentedly away third from the gate with driver Drew Campbell salivating as speed balls, Rocnrolwilneverdie (Dan Deslandes) and Late Mail N (Shawn Thayer) jockeyed for position through quarter-pole gyrations.

Approaching the half though, Rose Run Slider’s scenario did not appear quite so rosy when the “Bangor Shuffle” began to back the hopeful through the field. Reys In A Ruckus (Heath Campbell) set up an outer flow which eventually included The Shining (Walter Case, Jr) and He Can Rock (Aaron Hall) with the seemingly inseparable field bunching up as the drivers screamed for seams around the final turn.

Dragged back to sixth by the time they reached the top of the stretch, Campbell and his steed waited like Moses watching for the seas to part, before finally finding the narrowest of openings up the inside edge. He and Rose Run Slider then began a mad dash for home along the treacherous pylon path, reaching the plate an official nose – – but in reality more a mere whisker –  the best over a five-wide cavalry charge as the determined competitors fanned out five deep across the wire. The winning time was 1:58.

Rocnrolwilneverdie held gallantly for the runner-up honors while He Can Rock parlayed a third-over trip to a third-best finish.

ROSE RUN SLIDER REPLAY

The win was the second of the season for Rose Run Slider who is trained by Mark Harris for owner Gail Harris. He paid $13.00 to win.

In other Bangor news, trainer Karl Butterfield had an outstanding day on Sunday, claiming three wins, three seconds, and three thirds after sending twelve entries to the post. His top placed finishers included, It’s Above Me Now (1:58-$30.40), who secured a pocket trip for driver Shawn Thayer after the heavily favored Woodrow F Call (Dan Deslandes) rolled off stride before the start; Ohoka Johnny N (1:55.2-$5.60), who nabbed his third win from his last four starts for driver Dan Deslandes; and Juxta Millionaire (1:59.3-$5.20) who, with Dan Deslandes driving, finished a mere 3/4-length in front of his stablemate Pembroke Ranger (Drew Campbell), to complete a rare Karl Butterfield exacta return of $15.80.

Butterfield’s hat trick moved his roster to within three wins of the meet’s standard bearer, Jeffrey Deslandes, who currently trumps all trainers with 20 seasonal scores.

Dan Deslandes continued his torrid ways on Sunday adding three wins to his meet’s leading tally of 32, as he steered Vel Straight Fun (1:58.3-$8.40) down victory lane along with the aforementioned Ohoka Johnny N and Juxta Millionaire.

Other drivers with multiple wins included Heath Campbell and Shawn Thayer who each claimed a pair.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (June 19) as the three-year-old colt pacers make their second trip to the Queen City oval. Stakes action will be showcased in races four and seven for purses of $16,416 and $16,191 respectively.

Post time for Wednesday’s (June 19) card has been moved up to 11:00 a.m. in an attempt to avoid the hottest part of the day as a late-spring heatwave closes in on the state-of-Maine.

Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer season this Wednesday morning with a special 11:00 a.m. (EDT) post time and with the Sunday morning matinees going to post bright and early in their customary 11:00 a.m. slot. 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