Bangor, Maine … Value was the order of the day at the harness racing mutuel windows of Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (June 26) when long shots ruled and only one post time favorite crossed the finish line on top.
“Double Digit” David Ingraham began the Bangor price parade by bringing home Daydreamermistirae (2:00.1-$52.20) at 25-1 odds to nab the Maine-bred filly’s 17th career score, but it was driver Timothy Hudson who really dialed up telephone numbers on Wednesday as he teamed Alittlemorebliss (Deuce Seelster) in 2:02.3, paying $106.80 to win at odds of 52-1.
A four-year-old Maine-bred, Alittlemorebliss appeared a mere afterthought as the maiden-level pacers strode in behind the starting gate, settling in fifth at the pylons before embarking on a daunting first-over journey while approaching the half. Like ‘The Little Engine That Could’, she chugged her way gradually toward the top before shocking the crowd as she bested the heavily backed fan favorite, Ally Mac (Andrew Harrington) by a half-length at the wire.
The stunning victory keyed hefty exotic payoffs at the windows as the cashiers exchanged $489.20 for exacta tickets while writing out tax forms for the $1816.40 trifecta return.
The home-bred mare, trained by Mike Cayoutte for owner Brenda Cayoutte, won for only the second time in her career on Wednesday. Her first win came via placings in a Maine Sire Stakes event, carded as a non-wagering contest on 8-7-23 at the Topsham Fair. Coincidently, the horse who finished second to her on that day at Topsham was the very same Ally Mac who once again played second fiddle on Wednesday.
ALITTLEMOREBLISS REPLAY
In other Bangor news, Aaron Hall scored a pair of driving wins on the Wednesday program while trainer Benson Merrill led all conditioners after sending three winners to the matinee post.
Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (6-30) as the three-year-old pacing fillies take center stage in two splits, carded as races two and six on the program and contested for purses in excess of $16,000 per dash. Bangor’s Sunday morning card gets underway at 11:00 a.m.
Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer every Wednesday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. (EDT) post time while the popular Sunday morning matinees go 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 RacewayĀ