Hesjustadelight cruises in Maine Sire Stakes

BANGOR, ME – Hesjustadelight (Western Maverick) made his first lifetime stakes race a memorable one, cruising to victory in the $14,598 Maine-sired 2-year-old colt and gelding harness racing pace at Bangor Raceway on Friday (July 7).

Co-owned and driven by Ron Cushing, Hesjustadelight scored from post position four in the early non-wagering event, and when the wings closed, he remained in fourth past a 29.2 opening panel.

Thru The Fire (Andrew Harrington) was one of three entrants from the Marc Tardif stable, and from pylon position that son of Western Maverick cut the fractions.  With no movement through a 1:00.2 breather, and with Oakleypopsthedeuce (David Ingraham-Anthony Urbanowicz) remaining in the two-hole, Cushing popped Hesjustadelight first over into a 1:31 third panel.

By the head of the stretch Cushing had cleared the top and was able to cruise to a 1-3/4 length victory in 2:02.1 with his whip tucked over his shoulder.

Trained by Heidi Gibbs and owned by the partnership of Cushing, Lynn-Marie Plouffe, Anthony and Joseph Romanelli, he was also bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.

Oakleypopsthedeuce rallied for second money; Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardif) finished third.

The freshman trotters visit Cumberland on Saturday (July 8) for two Maine Sire Stakes worth a combined $27,800-plus in purses.  The early action starts before the regular card at 2:00 pm.  3-year-old trotters enjoy two $13,500 divisions at Bangor on Sunday (July 9) with an early 11:45 am post time.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their new website: click here.

Talented teamsters at Bangor Raceway

While driver Dan Deslandes held the hot hand once again at Bangor Raceway on Friday (7-7) there were certainly plenty of other accolades to go around during the first Friday session of the 2023 season.

Deslandes, who headed up a gang of four drivers who each made repeat appearances in the Bass Park winners circle, added three more wins on Friday, matching his total of top tier tallies from the Wednesday (7-5) program. Included in “Double D’s” driving triple were brisk, on-the-engine scores with; Lodi Machette Man (1:58.1-$3.20) for trainer Karl Butterfield; Rocknrolwilneverdie (1:58-$15.20), who won for the 71st time in his career; and SG Alexia (1:58-$4.40), who secured her 8th win of the 2023 season.

The dean of state-of-Maine harness racing, Walter Case, Jr, also joined the hit parade on Friday, aggressively grinding in first-over fashion with Always A Mystery (1:59.4-$3.20) before quickly turning a second-over trip into a first-over barrage with the Maine-bred Daughtry (1:57.1-$25.80), keying a hefty $1305. trifecta return in the process.

Bruce Ranger retained his perch atop the leaderboard with two driving wins of his own on Friday, maintaining a three win advantage over challengers Dan Deslandes and Kevin Switzer, Jr while soaring gate-to-wire with a pair of 4-1 shots. Studio Session (2:01-$10.80) and Lyons Sharpie (1:56.1-$10.00), the latter romping by a 7-1/2 length margin in a new lifetime best for trainer Chris Lefebvre, both benefited from the talents of the native-born teamster.

Nick Graffam also contributed to the multi-win assault on Friday, holding firm by 1/2-length at the wire following a gate-to-wire gambit with American Flight (1:59.3-$6.80) before grinding out a more comfortable three-length margin after being flushed first-over with Outspoken Man (1:56.2-$13.80).

Maine’s extremely talented drivers colony will once again be out in full force as live harness racing returns to Bangor Raceway with a ten-race program scheduled for Sunday (7-9). The parimutuel card will get underway starting at 12:15 p.m. (EDT) and will be preceded by a pair of Maine Sire Stakes races which will be conducted as non-wagering events starting at 11:45 a.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 race results, click here.

by Chris Tully and Mike Sweeney for Bangor Raceway