Grand slam Graffam glimmers at Bangor Raceway

Bangor, Maine – It was deja vu all over again on Wednesday (July 13) at Bangor Raceway as harness racing driver Nick Graffam and trainer Karl Butterfield wreaked their usual midweek carnage over the defenseless Queen City competition.

As the battle waned and the sun descended behind the ancient Bass Park grandstand, Graffam had posted his second consecutive grand slam performance while Butterfield added three more tallies to his meet’s leading total as others were made content plotting future strategies while binding their wounds.

All three of Butterfield’s wins came under Graffam’s expert reinsmanship. Included in their triumphant triad were Wynnfrith (Ameripan Gigilo), who sprinted down the highway to record her third consecutive win timed in 1:58.2; Tyronbettorsella N (Bettor’s Delight), who rode the pocket to a seasonal best 1:59.1 clocking; and Ten Beaches Later (Net Ten Eom), who ground out a well-earned 1:57.2 score to record his second win in a row.

Graffam’s non-Butterfield conquest came in what might have been the most dramatic race yet seen this season at Bass Park. Scoring from the rail, he rocketed Creepin (Mach Three) off the gate to join a four-horse melee into Bangor’s notoriously tight first turn. Utilizing his strategic position to dictate the terms while securing the coveted pocket seat all for himself, Graffam finally allowed a hard used Pillage And Burn (David Ingraham) to settle on the lead.

Horse after horse then came to pester the roughed-up leader while Graffam patiently sat. Shuffled back to fourth and as all hope seemed lost, the duo came sneaking up the pylons, with Creepin’ overcoming determined foes and a five-horse photo to persevere in the 1:57.3 epic.

R T Lang (Walter Case Jr) rallied at 17-1 to finish second while Pillage And Burn lives to fight another day after his gritty third place showing.

In other Bangor news, trainer Neal Grass was the other hot conditioner on Wednesday’s card, sending winners from his roster including the aforementioned Creepin’ as well as Dexter Jolt (Heath Campbell).

And speaking of Heath Campbell, the man in orange and black did his best to out-sparkle the glimmer of Graffam before settling for a mere hat trick on Wednesday’s card. Campbell’s other winners included Fernleigh Rebel N (1:59.3) for trainer Christopher Hitchcock and That’s Some Plan (1:59) for St John, New Brunswick based trainer, Robert MacNeil.

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