Drew Campbell, Chris Lefebrve rock Bangor

Bangor, Maine – Harness racing driver Drew Campbell set loose his legions during a triumphant invasion of Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (June 1) and in much like Julius Caesar’s overwhelming victory in the Battle of Zela, Campbell’s report back to the homeland could have read exactly the same.

Veni, Vidi, Vici – I came, I saw, I conquered.

In a somewhat rare appearance in Queen City competition, Campbell, allied with trainer Chris Lefebrve, unleashed a triad of gladiatorial equines on the battlefields of Bangor, each in turn parading victoriously to a unanimous “thumbs up” verdict while claiming their share of the laurel leaf crowns.

First came Keystone Maxim (Western Ideal), an invader from the mid-Atlantic circuit who was making his first state of Maine start for new connections. The six-year-old utilized a bold first over strategy to overpower the locals while scoring his first win of the season timed in 1:57.

Second came De Chirico (So Surreal) who powered his way to the front of the lines before sprinting 5-1/4 lengths clear at the wire. The epic, timed in 1:54, was the fastest clocking of the day at Bangor and represented the fourth seasonal score for the five-year-old gelding.

And last came Linda’s In Heaven (Rock N Roll Heaven) who made amends for an ignoble defeat in a Plainridge Park skirmish last week while grinding out a game 1:55.2 overland gambit to secure his first winning conquest of this current campaign.

Upon exiting the gates of Bangor, Campbell and Lefebrve might well have echoed another quote attributed to the great Julius Caesar, “I had rather be first in a village than second in Rome”.

With horses like these three in their quiver, they probably need not worry.

In other Bangor news, I Saw Red (If I Can Dream) her win extended her win streak out to three-in-a-row for trainer Sara Harrington. Harrington later scored a training double on the card as stablemate Gracie G (Rock N Roll Heaven) cruised down Victory Lane.

Rockin Lisa (Woodstock) also joined the hit parade on Wednesday as she made her third consecutive winners circle appearance for owner/trainer Clayton Merrill Jr.

Bangor Raceway proudly features live harness racing every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 12:15 p.m. Simulcast wagering is available Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 7:00 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway