Drew Campbell dominates at Bangor

Bangor, Maine …. Drew Campbell, who for years reigned as the supreme force along the Maine harness racing circuit while earning multiple drivers championships at the former Scarborough Downs racetrack, has apparently found new vigor at new digs after becoming a regular participant at Bangor Raceway this season.

Campbell’s bright orange sulkies have become a familiar sight whizzing around the stonedust of historic Bass Park just as his orange, black and white colors have become de rigueur in the Bangor winners circle.

Three victories on the Sunday (October 27) program padded Campbell’s meet leading tally to 60 wins for the season. He is trailed in the standings by his brother Heath Campbell’ with 47 scores and the hard charging Aaron Hall (42 wins) who has shot up to third on the leaderboard with a solid late-season surge.

Campbell’s trio of triumphs came conservatively on Sunday starting with a determined first-over grind with Salute America (American Ideal) (2:00.3-$5.20), who overcame post seven while overtaking the front running and upset-bound maiden, Boss Town (Andy Harrington), to secure his third career win for trainer Scott Farley.

SALUTE AMERICA REPLAY

Then a pair from the extremely hot Mark Harris roster completed Campbell’s triple. First, when Urika Blue Chip (Bettor’s Delight, 1:59.3-$3.60), remaining undefeated in Maine by scoring his second win since exiting Maritimes competition last week, was sent aggressively from post seven toward a handy 3-1/4 length final margin, and secondly, when Campbell worked a strategic second-over trip with Axion Hanover (1:57-$16.60) tagging along behind the post time favorite and Canadian invader, Press Time (McGwire Sowers), before sprinting clear by 2-1/2 lengths at the wire.

Harris, currently third in the Bangor trainer standings with 25 local wins, continues to inch closer to the top spot on the leaderboard. His two scores on Sunday elevated him to within five top tallies from the pinnacle position which is currently jointly occupied in a tie by Jeffrey Deslandes and Valerie Grondin.

In other Bangor news, trainer Benson Merrill’s roster was the most productive of all on Sunday as the meet’s fifth rated conditioner sent out three winners from his barn including Show Me The Magic (Kevin Switzer, Jr-2:01.3-$13.40), Bush Man N (Garrett Mosher-1:58.2-$4.80), and Koepka (David Ingraham-1:58.4-$3.20).

Bangor’s 2024 meet will conclude with two more Wednesday afternoon performances on October 30 and November 6 with post time scheduled at 3:00 p.m. each day.

For those not able to come to the track, wagering and live video on Bangor Raceway, as well as hundreds of harness and Thoroughbred racetracks across the world, is available on Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com.

For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, please visit the website, www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway