Maine Breeders Stakes racing moves to Bangor Raceway

As part of its 4th of July holiday weekend racing program, Bangor Raceway will showcase the 3-year-old divisions of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes. After the initial series outing at Scarborough Downs last weekend, the MSBS moved into Bangor for three weekends of competition in the lucrative “Maine-only” series.

Friday’s Bangor program will feature a compacted field of 3-year-old MSBS trotters racing in one division. All 3-year-old stakes divisions at Bangor this season are wagering events.

Last week at Scarborough, it was Lenny Joy, with John Davidson in the bike, trotting from third off the rail (after the scratch of Mic Mac Terror) to take the front end at the quarter-mile pole. He maintained the lead for the remainder of the mile, winning in 2:05.4. Lenny Joy is a son of Bob Crawford’s sire, Ruck A Chucky, and is owned by Kermit Allen of Sedgwick. He had eight starts in 1995, with three wins, two seconds, and one third and earnings of $12,390.

Finishing in second place in the trot was Wuzzie, part of a coupled entry by owner Linwood Perkins of Cornish. He was driven by his regular driver, John Nason of Freedom, N.H. Wuzzie and Nason surprised everyone last September in the 2-year-old MSBS finals at Bangor Raceway, winning the $17,823 final in 2:06.4.

Bangor’s 10-dash Saturday program features two divisions of the ladies of the Maine racing plan. Each of the two 3-year-old filly divisions will compete for an $8,081 purse. Eighteen entries for the first week of Bangor competition make the two filly divisions somewhat bulky with nine horses each.

Last week at Scarborough, the fillies raced in one nine-horse division with race winner Miss Julie B and driver Leigh Fitch, post positioned ninth, behind the one horse, winning in 2:02.4. A My Bill Forwood filly, she is owned by Richard Belisle Sr. of Saco and earned more than $18,275 as a 2-year-old competitor. Miss Julie B finished third in the 2-year-old finals at Bangor Raceway last September.

Rebekah Anne, winner of the 2-year-old MSBS filly finals at Bangor Raceway last September in 2:03.4, was less fortunate last week at Scarborough. From the No. 6 post position, she was driven by regular driver Shawn Thayer for owner Basil Kellis of Wells in her first stakes outing, finishing eighth. But the season is just beginning and it’s a long way to the 3-year-old finals on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Scarborough Downs.

Sunday’s 14-race afternoon program will feature two divisions of the MSBS colt and gelding divisions with purses of $8,357 and $8,552, respectively. Last week at Scarborough Downs, three divisions of MSBS colts and geldings went to post, setting the fastest times of the early stakes season. In the first division, Willy Wilco and Donny Richards paced twice around the Scarborough half-mile track in a swift, winning 2:01.4. Willy Wilco won last season’s 2-year-old final at Bangor Raceway in 2:02.4 and ended the season with a $18,271 bankroll. In the second division, Northeast Carey and owner-trainer Gary Mosher finished their winning mile in a quicker 2:01.2. In last year’s 2-year-old finals, Northeast Carey jumped in the mile and finished a disappointing seventh.

The third division was won by Leigh Fitch and R Fast Heart Beat for owner Roland St. Pierre of Rochester N.H., in the fastest MSBS time of the day, 2:01. R Fast Heart Beat was the second-place finisher last September in the MSBS finals behind Willy Wilco at Bangor Raceway.

Sunday’s co-feature will be the Can-Am Invitational, a pace for either Maine or Maritime horses. From Postcard Jack on the rail to S.K. Hurricane in the middle to Valiant Towner on the outside, the eight-horse field of pacers is outstanding. Four American and four Canadian drivers will vie for the winning share of the $5,000 purse.

County Raceway’s fourth session is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight on the race track at Northern Maine Fairgrounds in Presque Isle. Tonight’s eight-dash program will feature the $800 Presque Isle Elks Lodge Pace. Last week’s winner, Ad Kerulu and Carty Rose, along with newcomer Glenora Opec, should be challenged by two newcomers to the Presque Isle track, Jacob Two Two and Mark Grant and Gypsy Supreme and Don Gallant.