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Skowhegan, Maine … A sense of urgency hung over the crowd as rain-soaked storm clouds zeroed in on the Skowhegan Fairgrounds on Friday (Aug. 18). Twelve harness racing contests had been carded for the next to last session of the weeklong fair but Mother Nature seemed intent on forcing a cancellation as she sent mist, haze and inland fog to threaten the proceedings.
No such sense of urgency was noted in the calm demeanor of driver Bruce Ranger though. Once the card got underway, the veteran teamster dominated the early potion of the program, scoring wins in two of the first four races as the heaviest precipitation was held at bay until just after the final race was contested in lightning round fashion, just two hours and twenty-one minutes after the twelve-race card began.
Ranger roared in first-over fashion as the hometown hero, Dempsey Hanover (1:58-$2.60, Stay Hungry), scored his first win of the season. Powering past the field, just like a good horse should, the sophomore extended out at the wire to a final margin of 1-1/2 lengths to the delight of owners, Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and Scott Dillon.
Ranger quickly followed up that win with one from his family roster as PBR Street Gang (1:58-$3.40, JK Endofanera) bullied his way to an early advantage and held off a determined finish line challenge to secure his fifth win of the season. The five-year-old is trained by Ranger’s wife, Mary Ranger’ for the The Starters Call LLC.
In other Skowhegan news, driver Kevin Switzer, Jr continued his torrid fairground swing, securing two more wins over the sloppy-rated surface.
The Skowhegan meet culminates on Saturday (August 19) with a 1:00 p.m. card which will feature the $15,000 Hight Memorial Invitational which has attracted a stellar eight horse field of accomplished top-class pacers.
For complete card one race results, click here: US Trotting results.
For complete card two race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Mike Sweeney, for Skowhegan State Fair
