Maine Sire Stakes underway at Bangor

Bangor, Maine … Maine Sire Stakes harness racing action made its long awaited 2022 debut on Wednesday (June 15) as the three-year-old colt pacing division took center stage at Bangor Raceway.

Appearing in twin seven-horse splits and contested for purses of $11,924 each, the sophomore studs provided few surprises while racing generally true to form, keying modest, yet reliable returns at the mutuel windows.

The opening salvo saw Ranaldi (Ron Cushing) and Use Yah Blinkah (Western Maverick, Heath Campbell) both sprinting off the car with Campbell signaling for an abrupt hard left turn to the pylons in order to tailgate Cushing around the oval. The field drafted behind the lead pack until the midway point when David Ingraham steered Ugotaearnyrstripes off the cones, effectively hogging the outside passing lane while ignoring the directional signal of Use Yah Blinkah, who appeared hopelessly locked in a bumper to bumper traffic jam at this point.

As the lead pack accelerated through a rapid 58-second back half though, Ingraham lost just enough ground to allow Campbell to steer clear of Rinaldi’s exhaust. Use Yah Blinkah took full advantage of the late clearance, throttling home with the aid of a turbo charged 28.2 final quarter to post the handy half-length margin, timed in a lifetime best 1:59.1.

Use Yah Blinkah, a three-year-old is trained by Valerie Grondin for the ownership consortium of Thibault, Vacca, Hardy and Nowak Jr of Attleboro and Norton, Massachusetts.

Rinaldi, just nabbed at the wire, secured the runner-up placing while Ugotaearnyrstripes gallantly garnered third following his game overland gambit.

The second division saw Deal With It Roman, the star pupil of last year’s freshman class, quickly remind his fellow scholars exactly what a champion looks like.

With driver Kevin Switzer Jr in his customary seat, the son of Western Maverick – Deal With Life deftly stepped to the front of the classroom to merrily lead his playmates in a jaunty game of follow the leader. Frolicking through an effortless .58.4 back half and looking exactly as a 1-5 favorite should, Deal With It Roman coasted to a 1:59.1 playground romp for owner/trainer Marc Tardif of Hollis Center, Maine.

Bandolito Blaze (Heath Campbell), who stalked from the pocket before falling a half-length shy at the wire, finished second. Daughtry (Ron Cushing), the only horse to venture off the pylon path, claimed third.

Maine Sire Stakes racing returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (June 19) as the three-year-old filly pacers take over the Queen City oval. Post time for the Sunday matinee is at 12:15.

In other Bangor news, driver Aaron Hall returned to Bangor Raceway this week as one of the hottest commodities along the New England circuit. Hall controlled the tempo in the overnight ranks on Wednesday while scoring three trips down the Bass Park Victory Lane.

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 Michael Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway