Miss Trickster turns hat trick for Wilson

Bangor, Maine …. Driver Steven Wilson held the hot hand at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (July 9), marauding over the well-manicured harness racing oval, while parading victoriously with three, reasonably backed, and adequately willing entries.

Miss Trickster (1:58.3-$8.80) punctuated Wilson’s three-peat performance as trainer Mike Graffam handed over the lines in a catch-driving assignment to which Wilson responded with a determined charge from the gate, insisting with fervor on the early top-spot position, while forcing a persistent Orrsterror (Shawn Thayer) to take a quarter-pole seat.

Allowed a brief breather around the second bend, Miss Trickster (Classic Card Shark) was quickly pressed by a first-over assault from the post time favorite, KP’s Magic Macy (Heath Campbell).

As the ever-ready mare came at the leader at the half, making steady progress around the 5/8ths turn, KP’s Magic Macy blinked when Miss Trickster glared back at her in the eye at the three-quarter-mile marker, allowing Wilson’s charge to put the challenger away around the final turn, without the necessity of even turning the whip.

MISS TRICKSTER REPLAY

The win was the second of the season for the seven-year-old daughter of Classic Card Shark who is owned by Robert Holden

Wilson’s opening scores came aboard Northern Skyway (2:01.2-$7.40), who thrived through a persistent first-over grind, taking advantage of a brief bobble by the pacesetting, Devious Valentine (Drew Campbell), to get up at the wire, and Sweet Katie Bug (2:00.4-$6,80), who sprinted out to a six-length lead at the quarter-pole and then never looked back.

In other Bangor news, trainer Mike Graffam continued his recent bountiful Bangor swing with Miss Trickster’s victory. Graffam has now trucked eleven starters up I-95 from the historic Norton Farm in Falmouth, garnering three wins, four runner-up placings, and a third to post a gaudy .505 UTRS at the Queen City oval.

Notably, Graffam’s score with Miss Trickster marked the 996th training win of his career as the state-of-Maine native closes in on a major milestone.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (July 13) when the three-year-old trotting divisions returns to the Queen City. The sophomore high-steppers will contest twin-splits on Sunday’s early-afternoon card.

Bangor Raceway will showcase live harness racing throughout the mid-summer season, featuring sessions on Wednesday afternoons with a 3:00 pm post time, and the popular Sunday matinees going to post at 12:10 pm.

For those not able to come to the track, wagering and live video for 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 at www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.

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

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway