Western Stepp notches 60th career win

Bangor, Maine … A weeklong heatwave gave way to a weekend of torrential rain and the harness racing track came up muddy at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (May 23). But just as she had in 254 starts prior, Western Stepp (Western Maverick-Fench Stepp) put her game face on while setting circumstances aside as she prepared to do battle over the soggy stone dust and clay of one her native-state’s historic racing venues.

Sent to the gate by her longtime trainer James Dunn and in harness to veteran teamster, Walter Case, Jr, Western Stepp ($6.80) sprung gamely from the gate as she commenced her graceful glide over the gooey going. Through legitimate fractions on the off-rated oval, the vaunted mare dissuaded her detractors from pillar to post, withstanding a late stretch challenge by Orrsterror (Heath Campbell), while coursing to a 3/4-length margin in a seasonal best 2:01.1 clocking.

Owned by Diane Dunn, the win marked the 60th career bow for the eleven-year-old Maine-bred who first tasted victory in the $54,783 Maine Sire Stakes final held at Scarborough Downs in 2015. Not content with a solo crown, Western Stepp followed up her freshman stakes championship by claiming the sophomore laurels in a 1:57 effort in the $85,223 three-year-old final which capped off a brilliant ten-win season in 2016.

The fan favorite filly then went on to chart an accomplished course as a confirmed open-class distaff threat, winning top level events at racing venues all along the eastern-seaboard while amassing career earnings that currently total $462,896.

WESTERN STEPP REPLAY

The win was one of two on the program for trainer James Dunn who also claimed top honors in a $16,197 Maine Sire Stakes split with the three-year-old pacing filly, Mrs Foxy Roxy (Drew Campbell-2:04.3-$16.60).

In other Bangor news, driver Aaron Hall became the master of the mud on Sunday, working out victorious strategies behind three winning entries while Kevin Switzer, Jr, Drew Campbell, and Walter Case, Jr claimed two wins apiece.

Live harness racing is proudly featured at Bangor Raceway throughout the summer season on Wednesday afternoons with a 3:00 p.m. (EDT) post time while the Sunday morning matinees get underway 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 here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway