Track record set in Fred Nichols Memorial

Bangor, Maine … So Rock N’ Roll (Western Maverick-So So Sweet) etched his name on the wall of legends at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (July 7), taking top honors in the $25,000 Fred Nichols Memorial Invitational in divisional track record time, becoming the new standard bearer for the four-year-old harness racing gelding set, while blazing a 1:53 epic over the storied oval at historic Bass Park.

So Rock N’ Roll and driver Bruce Ranger broke fifth from the gate once the five-horse gathering of invitational class pacers began their quest as long shot contender, The Bird Dance N (Dan Deslandes) exploded off the car, taking flight to the quarter through a legitimate :26.4 panel. Gliding to the half in an even-rated :56, The Bird Dance N was soon joined in battle by the heavily favored Heinikin Bythebay (Kevin Switzer, Jr) who pounced to the rim in confident overland style, and by the second-over assault of The Wild Card (Nick Graffam) who was breathing right down Switzer’s neck in ferocious, hounded pursuit.

Ranger, opting to race third on the out rather than third on the in, swung So Rock N’ Roll to the outer flow as the tightly packed field barreled past the 5/8th pole. The veteran teamster’s gamble began to pay dividends as his change inched to with-in three lengths at three-parts timed in 1:24.1 as the courageous campaigners steadied themselves for the final two furlongs.

Slinging three-wide off the long far turn after tracking cover throughout, So Rock N’ Roll seemed to swell at the sight of daylight in the stretch, sprinting to the wire through a :28.1 final panel to out-slug Heinikin Bythebay by a scant nose with The Wild Card finishing third.

So Rock N’ Roll, a four-year-old Maine-bred, is trained by Benson Merrill for owners Leighton Property. He took a brand-new lifetime mark in the track record performance while upping his career bankroll to $299,041.

The 1:53 clocking equaled the third fastest mile ever paced at Bangor Raceway and represents the fastest mile ever recorded by a Maine-bred at a state-of-Maine venue.

SO ROCK N’ ROLL REPLAY

In other Bangor news, driver Heath Campbell held the hot hand with three wins on the day. Included in Campbell’s trifecta were two scores in Maine Sire Stakes action as Pembroke Will (2:04.1-NB) and Pembroke Breeze (2:02.2-$2.20) swept both $15,000-plus sire stakes splits.

Drivers Kevin Switzer, Jr and Dan Deslandes also joined the multi-win hit parade with two scores apiece and  on the conditioning side of the tally sheet, Valerie Grondin sent three winning Maine-breds to the post while trainer Neal Grass’s roster claimed twin victories on the card.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (July 10) as the three-year-old colt pacing division takes center stage in two splits. Carded as races four and six, the stakes and will be contested for purses of $16,291 and $16,191 respectively.

Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer every Wednesday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. (EDT) post time while the popular Sunday morning matinees go to post bright and early at 11:00 a.m. Simulcast wagering is available daily in the grandstand facility.

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

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

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway