Maine Sire Stakes action at Bangor Raceway

BANGOR, ME – Four $14,000-plus divisions of Maine Sire Stakes for 2- and 3-year-old harness racing pacing fillies went postward on Friday (July 14) afternoon, with three of the distaffs taking new lifetime records over the hot and fast Bass Park surface at Bangor Raceway.

Hollywood Casino at Bangor played host to three early non-wagering races at 11 am, with the fourth and final split carded as race one on the betting program.

The sophomore fillies were the first to hit the track, with Katelyn’s Angel (Western Maverick) a bridesmaid no more.  Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif, the filly had finished second in all three of her previous stakes outings.  All that changed Friday when Switzer Jr. sent the Leighton Property-owned and bred lass out to the front row where she remained for the duration of the flight.

It was a perfectly rated ‘training mile’ for last year’s five-time winner.  Following an opening panel of 29.1, Switzer Jr. hit the half in 1:00 flat.  At the three-quarter pole she was on top four and looking for more in 1:29.2.  Tripping the timer in a career best 1:58.2, Katelyn’s Angel won by 8-1/2 lengths and never had an anxious moment in the $14,684 event.

Justcallmemimi (Bruce Ranger-Mike Graffam) finished second; Bailey’s Rock Star (Sherry Cushing) was third.

In the second $14,684 Maine-bred 3-year-old filly pace, South St Dottie (Western Maverick) continued her winning ways, picking up her fourth consecutive victory in stakes company with regular pilot Nick Graffam at the controls.

Sitting a perfect pocket trip behind pacesetter La Mambacita (Heath Campbell-Valerie Grondin), the filly found an extra gear and scooted home in 30 seconds to secure her place atop the divisional leader board.

Trained by Mike Graffam for owner-breeder Jan Donaway, it was her fifth lifetime victory, winning by 3 lengths in 1:59.  La Mambacita finished second; Janie (Aaron Hall) was third.

Next, the babies took center stage in the first $14,486 2-year-old filly pace, where My Sweet Revenge (Western Maverick) is a maiden no more.  Making her fourth lifetime start for trainer Marc Tardif, the filly got a new mark and an education in a little over two minutes.

Scoring from post five, Walter Case Jr. scooted out for the lead with My Sweet Revenge to hit the opening panel in a snappy 30.2 but walked to the half in 1:03.2.

Sensing the tempo shift driver Heath Campbell pulled Pembroke Red to the outside to challenge for the lead.  When the would-be spoiler poked a head in front at the 1:33.3 third stanza, that was all My Sweet Revenge needed to gain some confidence and dig in for the remaining two furlongs.

The pair fought gallantly to the wire, but it was My Sweet Revenge that prevailed by half a length in 2:03.2.  Owned by Leighton Property and bred by Laurie Harding and Reginald Duguay, it was her first lifetime victory.

Pembroke Red finished second; Ghost Of You (Kevin Switzer Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third.

The final $14,486 Maine Sire Stake of the day was on the regular card and witnessed second-time starter Who’s Perfect (Western Maverick) get her first race record.

Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin, the filly followed last week’s winner and 1-5 favorite Mrs Foxy Roxy (Nick Graffam-Mike Graffam) around the two-loop circuit.

Campbell kept Who’s Perfect tight on Graffam’s helmet throughout heavy lifting.  When the pair got into the final turn Mrs Foxy Roxy started swishing her tail, which was Campbell’s cue to tip out and challenge the pacesetter to a stretch duel.  They fought head-to-head, wheel to wheel and nose to nose down to the wire, but it was Who’s Perfect who got up in the final strides to win by a nose in 2:04, putting in a 28.4 final quarter exclamation point.

Owned by Lynn-Marie Plouffe, Dick McKeen and Patty McKeen, she was also bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and paid $11.80 to win.  Zoes Precious RN (Mike Cushing-Sherry Cushing) finished third.

WHO’S PERFECT REPLAY

During the upcoming weekend, the 2-year-old pacing colts visit Cumberland on Saturday (July 15), with all the divisions of trotters racing at Bangor on Sunday (July 16) in four additional Maine Sire Stakes events.

Despite riding a two-race win streak into battle, Instant Replay (Lazarus N) wasn’t shown much love at the windows on Friday (7-14), as the Bangor Raceway punters dismissed the colt at rather steep 11-1 odds. He was up in class, drew the 8-hole, and was losing his regular driver too, so it seemed there were just too many obstacles for the lightly raced three-year-old to overcome.

Instant Replay doesn’t pay attention to tote boards though.

With Walter Case, Jr manning the lines, Instant Replay was sent immediately into the mix, settling in fourth after avoiding a brief moment of confusion exiting the first turn as the heavily favored Paxton (Heath Cambell) cut the mile. Patient at the pylons, Case flushed The Devil’s Cash (Bruce Ranger) at the 3/8th pole, securing a strategic second-over journey behind live cover as the field reached the half in a decelerating :59.2.

With traffic evident in his side-view mirror, Campbell stomped on the throttle, sending Paxton through a zippy :28.1 third panel, but was unable to deter his pursuers who stuck close to him like unwelcome strangers in a crowded subway car.

Off the final turn, Case allowed Instant Replay a brief glimpse of daylight as they fanned off for the expected stretch battle and colt swelled up at the chance to escape confinement. Grabbing the bit but barely straining in harness, he propelled himself to the front of the pack, literally tugging Case to a 2-1/2 length margin at the wire in a lifetime best 1:57 clocking.

INSTANT REPLAY REPLAY

Trained by Kimberly Vafiades for owner George Fenno III, Instant Replay has now won four of his nine career starts and remains undefeated since moving his harness bag to Maine.

“He’s just a gorgeous animal” Vafiades remarked after the winning effort, “He’s only three but he acts like an aged horse. He’s so easy to be around and we’re thankful to George Fenno for entrusting him to us”.

The win was one of two on the program for driver Walter Case, Jr who also took top honors with My Sweet Revenge (2:03.2) in a non-wagering $14,486 Maine Sire Stakes split for two-year-old filly pacers.

Kevin Switzer, Jr and Nick Graffam joined Case with two driving wins apiece on the card while Heath Campbell left the Bass Park paddock with bragging rights in hand after scoring three wins on Friday.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (7-16) with over $57,781 in purse money divvied up between four splits of freshman and sophomore trotters,  three of which go postward as non-wagering events beginning bright and early at 11:30 a.m. (EDT). The fourth will lead off the parimutuel program which is slated to commence at 12:15 p.m.

Bangor Raceway proudly presents live harness racing every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) while the Friday and popular Sunday matinees get underway at 12:15 p.m.

For complete non-wagering race results, click here.

For complete pari-mutuel race results, click here.

by Chris Tully and Mike Sweeney for Bangor Raceway