Steven Wilson cruises in Cadillac Mountain Series

Bangor, Maine …. When the sunrise dawns on the eastern United States, its golden rays  make landfall first on the towering peak of Maine’s Cadillac Mountain. The granite sentinel has long kept guard over scenic Frenchman Bay and Acadia National Park, but just 52 miles to the mountain’s west sits another Pine Tree State landmark, Bangor Raceway at historic Bass Park, where on the first day of summer (June 22), when the sun shone at its seasonal apex, tribute was paid to the mountain with the running of the $8500 final of the Cadillac Mountain Pacing Series.

Touch Of Character, fittingly a Maine-bred son of Shady Character, completed a three race sweep of the series while mounting a determined gate-to-wire frontal assault on the well-heeled field. Leaving from the outside wing, driver Steven Wilson steadied his charge on the outer rim, content to idle like a Cadillac limousine. Only then, as his opponents arranged themselves along the pylons, did he launch a terrific rush to the lead through a brisk :27.3 opening clip.

Strategically catching a breather after reaching the half in a softer :58, Wilson quickly discouraged any pretenders while extending out through a daunting :28.2 third panel. With dominance then established, the pair cruised home by two open lengths, timed in a seasonal best 1:55.3.

The win marked the 26th career score for the nine-year-old state-bred who is trained by Michael Cushing for owner Darrell Tibbetts.

TOUCH OF CHARACTER REPLAY

Wilson doubled his pleasure in the very next contest on Sunday after scoring a late, race day catch driving assignment behind Eternal Ring.

Dismissed at 55-1 odds and leaving from the identical starting spot as Touch Of Character, Wilson was unable to recreate his former charge’s determined quarter-pole brush, becoming quickly resigned to a “first-over forever” journey. Wilson kept Eternal Ring brave and near the lead though, and when the :57.1 opening half degenerated into a 1:02 back-half, was able to encourage the 12-year-old veteran to a quarter-length win.

The 1:59.1 clocking heralded the first win of the season for the Dalton Lee owned and trained pacer who lit up the Bangor Raceway infield board, returning a hefty $113.60 win ticket following his heroic victory.

In other Bangor news, Walter Case, Jr led all drivers on Sunday with three trips down Victory Lane while Drew and Heath Campbell joined Wilson by claiming a pair of wins each.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (June 25) as the three-year-old filly pacers make their seasonal debut at the Queen City oval, racing in twin splits for purses of $11,926 per dash.

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