West Ridge Gossip sets Bangor Raceway trotting record

The worth and success of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes was aptly demonstrated last Tuesday at Bangor Raceway, when West Ridge Gossip, a graduate of the Maine-bred breeders program, trotted a record-setting Bangor mile in 2:00.

The new trot mark chopped one and two-fifths seconds off the previous mark set in the 1996 Anah Temple Shrine Trot by Tuesday’s second-place finisher, Corky’s Boy. Records are made to be broken – that’s a given – and in the second leg of the Gillie Gallant Series, a late-closer for trotters, the C. Paul Mullen-owned 6-year-old daughter of Jelly Apple cranked out her record-winning mile in 90+ degree temperatures.

Right from the starter’s “go,” MacKenzie was on the high line as he blistered the mare from sixth position straight to the rail, followed closely by Corky’s Boy and driver Leigh Fitch. Gossip and MacKenzie were challenged twice in the mile by Fitch and Corky’s Boy, but they looked more like a prompter that night, twice pulling Penelope Bubier’s champion trotter up beside Gossip and twice having to settle back.

It was Gossip’s night to shine and she kept her perfect seasonal record intact with four wins in four starts as she trotted down the stretch and crossed the finish line a length and one-half better than Corky’s Boy. Starburst LaManchi was a distant third. This tandem may hook up again in the 1997 Anah Temple Shrine Trot, scheduled for Sunday, July 13.

Bangor Raceway will also feature the $3,850 Miss Bangor pacing final. The late closer for pacers was won last week by My Bills Carrie Jo and Gary Mosher in 2:00. This week, the Lloyd Pierce owned My Bill Forwood mare, drew the outside sixth position.

Bangor Raceway hosted the first seasonal competition of the 3-year-old divisions of the 1997 MSBS races last week over the three-day weekend. On Friday’s 10-dash race program, the trotters were spotlighted.

In a seven-horse field for a $5,838 purse, Frankenstarr returned from her 2-year-old MSBS winning ways and trotted to her first seasonal win as a 3-year-old stakes entrant. At the halfway mark in 1:04.3, she was sitting third. But regular driver Gary Hall pulled her to the outside, put her in high gear and she trotted on by South Road Rusty and Bonnie Onyx winning by two and one-half lengths in 2:07. As owner Ann Hamlin of East Millinocket headed for the winner’s circle, she was speechless, if you can imagine that.

On Saturday, the 3-year-old MSBS fillies headed to post in two divisions. In the first division for a $5,721 purse, Nite Nite Lee, driven by Don Richards, grabbed the top share of the purse, winning by a head in 2:01 for owners, Tom Dillon of Anson, Richards of Yarmouth and Walter Hight of Skowhegan. Blue Eyes Blue and Bob Sumner finished second and last year’s 2-year-old finals winner, Sue’s Data and Doug Gray finished third.

In Saturday’s second division, for a $5,917 purse, Kim Ireland teamed the Skip By Night filly She’s My Niece to a 2:01.4 victory for owner Basil Kellis of Wells. Glamour’s Maggie a LeCoursier filly owned by Leonard Pierce of Newburgh, finished second and Gaelic Lovely Lady, by Wilco’s Data, and Esau Cooper Jr. finished third.

Sunday’s 12-dash program featured two colt divisions of the 3-year-old MSBS entrants. In the first division, for a $5,509 purse, Guadalajara Harry and Eddie Davis Jr., last season’s 2-year-old stakes colt final winners, stepped up to the 3-year-old competition with ease, winning in 2:01.4 from the five hole for owners Bob and Yvette Prudenzano of Augusta and Basil Kellis of Wells. Gaelic Ian and Doug Gray were second and Play It Straight and Heath Campbell finished third.

In the second division, for a $5,509 purse, Toronado, last season’s second place finals finisher, won in 2:00.4 for owner Valerie Chow of Brunswick. Marc Mosher drove Toronado to the fastest mile of the 1997 stakes season thus far. Gary Mosher, who drove Toronado in the 1996 MSBS 2-year-old finals at Scarborough Downs, drove Bozo to a second place finish on Sunday and Y and Eddie Davis Jr. finished third.

The MSBS begins its second week of competition tonight at Bangor Raceway with the return of the 3-year-old trotting division. Bangor also has a special post time on Friday, with races beginning at 6 p.m. Fred Nichols, general manager of the raceway, says the grandstand is an excellent place to sit and watch the fireworks after the races have concluded.

PACING BITS – The County Raceway at Northern Maine Fairgrounds in Presque Isle celebrates the Fourth of July holiday weekend with an eight dash racing program. First race pacers head to post at 7:30 p.m.

Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association had its second winner in as many weeks. DEHHA offers $100 in supplemental money every Tuesday night to the winner of a designated race randomly selected by a numbered pill at the time the regular Tuesday races are drawn. Gary Mosher and his outstanding Beach Towel filly, On The Beach Again, won the $100 by cruising the Bass Park oval in a swift 2:02.1. Mosher is the trainer, driver and owner.