Quatrain Blue Chip is sheer poetry

Bangor, Maine …. The front-end was the place to be on Sunday (May 25) at Bangor Raceway with all eight harness racing winners coming right on the engine. And no one took keener advantage of the decided track bias than trainer Richard Allaby who harnessed two dashing winners with apparent jet propulsion in their shoes.

Allaby sent Quatrain Blue Chip (1:56.2-$3.60) first to the gate with driver Shawn Thayer in his customary seat. Thayer wasted little time showcasing the veteran pacer’s prowess, sending the nine-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere through aggressive opening panels, reaching the quarter in :28.3 before gliding to the half in a softer :58.3. Giving his charge his head, Thayer then throttled through a torrid :57.4 back-half en route to registering the fastest mile yet recorded this season at Bangor Raceway.

QUATRAIN BLUE CHIP REPLAY

The win was the first of the season for Quatrain Blue Chip and marked his 20th career winners circle appearance.

Allaby’s second winner came in less certain fashion as The Shining (1:58.2-$14.40) made his first appearance off the qualifying list after making costly breaks in each of his last two pari-mutuel starts.

Driver Kevin Switzer, Jr confidently hustled the seven-year-old son of Custard The Dragon off the gate despite the troubled charts, putting the rest of the field in line as he chugged to the half in a brisk :58.2. Approaching the 5/8th’s pole, the site of both both recent miscues, Switzer seemed to gather the lines and steady his charge. Once safely around that corner of contention, the tandem coasted through a decelerating 1:00 back-half to secure Allaby’s second score.

Like his stablemate, the win was the first of the year and 20th career victory for The Shining. It was also one of two driving wins on the program for Switzer.

THE SHINING REPLAY

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