Deslandes, Butterfield dial up hat tricks

Bangor, Maine … Harness racing driver Dan Deslandes revved up the engines at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (May 19), building upon his meet’s leading dash tally, while teaming three more winners down Victory Lane as did trainer Karl Butterfield.

Ohoka Johnny N (Ohoka Arizona) in 1:55 propelled Deslandes toward his hat trick performance with a dazzling gate-to-wire spectacular timed as the fastest mile yet recorded during the young 2024 season at Bangor.

Primed to go, the Karl Butterfield trainee threw in identically clocked 28.2 panels at the quarter, half, and three-quarter-mile markers before strolling home in a leisurely 29.2 and coasting to the 8-1/2 length margin at the wire.

The win marked the 30th career bow for the ten-year-old who paid $8.00 to win and was one of three wins on Sunday’s card for trainer Karl Butterfield.

OHOKA JOHNNY N REPLAY

Deslandes then devised a “purr-fect” strategy for his next conquest, propelling Kittie Cat (Sportswriter) in 1:58 through a smart 27.4 opening quarter before slinking to the wire, 2-1/4 lengths the best. The win was the first of the season for the five-year-old mare who is trained by Dalton Lee. She paid $3.00 to win.

KITTIE CAT REPLAY

Grand Gallop Semalu (Rock N Roll Hanover) went in 1:56.2 to cap Deslandes’ three-peat effort after the torrid teamster somewhat reluctantly acquiesced to a pocket trip behind the 14-year-old Middle Aged Crazy (Heath Campbell). Resigned to drafting around the oval, Deslandes held plenty in reserve before sling-shotting of the 7/8th-mile bend before out kicking the veteran pacer to the wire through a gear-shifting 28.4 final quarter.

The win marked the 64th victory march for the 12-year-old and was the third consecutive runner-up placing for Middle Aged Crazy. He paid $8.00 to win.

GRAND GALLOP SEMALU REPLAY

In other Bangor news, teamsters Walter Case, Jr, Aaron Hall, and Shawn Thayer all enjoyed driving doubles on the Sunday program while trainer Eric Bickmore’s roster scored two wins on the 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