Adriano Hanover puts one past top rivals

Bangor, Maine … With all the finesse of his soccer-phenom namesake, Adriano Hanover prowled the pitch at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (7-9), thrilling the fans with an overpowering display as the six-year-old son of Western Ideal took top flight competition to task in the $6500 winners over division, the weekly feature class at historic Bass Park, with Kevin Switzer, Jr manning the sulky for owner/trainer Gerald Mac Kenzie, Jr.

Dissuaded from the early lead by an insistent Bush Man N (Bruce Ranger), Switzer reined his charge into a strategic pocket trip, drafting behind the top-placed pacer through opening panels of :27.3 and :57.2.

Rather than being lulled by a dull 2nd quarter, Switzer pounced with catlike reflexes, and began pressing the issue as the tempo noticeably quickened. Overtaking his nemesis with a powerful brush, Adriano Hanover bravened on the lead, generating a back-half recorded in a brisk 56.1, stopping the clock, in the grips, in a torrid 1:53.3, resulting in the second fastest mile recorded this season at Bangor Raceway.

Sent to the gate as the reasonably backed 2-1 second choice, Adriano Hanover returned $6.40 to win and keyed respectable $57 exacta and $250 trifecta returns while recording his sixth win of the 2023 season.

Bush Man N held steady for runner-up honors while Call Me Maverick (Michael Stevenson) secured the show dough.

In other Bangor news, the Deslandes Clan capped off an astounding week of equine excellence on Sunday as driver Dan Deslandes and trainer Jeff Deslandes sent four more winners to the post.

Wynnfrith (2:00-$3.00), Ten Beaches Later (1:57DH-$9.20), Safety Second (1:57.2-$5.60), and Pink Delight (1:57.2-$5.60) all joined the winners ranks on Sunday, propelling Dan Deslandes into a first place tie with Bruce Ranger atop the leaderboard with 31 seasonal wins apiece.

The Jeff Deslandes roster continuing to demonstrate Bass Park mastery, extended its season-long dominance by registering their 31st score of the year, tallying 18 wins more than their closest rival.

In non-Deslandes news, Heath Campbell and Nick Graffam each secured driving doubles on Sunday while trainer Valerie Grondin also sent to winners to the gate.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (July 12) with two  $15,142 splits of sophomore lacing colts going postward as non-wagering events beginning at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) before the ten-race parimutuel program commences at 3:00 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.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway