Bangor, ME – With torrents of tropical precipitation pounding in off the rock bound coast of Maine, the races at Bangor Raceway went off as scheduled on Wednesday (Oct. 26). Over a “sloppy” rated surface which delivered seven winners on the engine, front-end speed proved the most beneficial attribute in the drivers’ quiver of weapons, and no driver was more adept at generating early traction on Wednesday than Drew (I Send ‘Em) Campbell.

Campbell clobbered the competition on Wednesday as he teamed four winners home over the gooey going at Bangor, starting his colossal conquest at the midway point in the program as L Dee’s Yoyo Ma (Lucky Chucky) held on by a neck over a hard-charging Swan Before All (Walter Case Jr.) in a robust 2:01.4 mile at a generous 3-1 odds.

Western Stepp glides to her 51st career victory with Drew Campbell at the helm. Shelley Gilpatrick photo.

The fans all caught Campbell fever at that point as he peeled off three consecutive scores as the betting favorite. Western Stepp (Western Maverick) was next to tread the stage as the marvelous Maine-bred gained her 51st career victory timed in 1:59.4 while striding out to a 3-1/2 length margin at the wire.

Swapportunity (Mach Three) then took his turn in the limelight as he romped to a 4-1/2 length jiggy-jog clocked at a sterling 1:58.3 clip. The 10-year-old veteran eclipsed the $350,00 plateau in career earnings with that effort for owner Michael Pease.

Campbell concluded his grand slam day with a handy win behind Big Bang Hanover (Donato Hanover) who took top honors in the $7,500 top class trot. Timed in 2:00.1, the Ken Lantz-owned and trained entry took his 20th career victory lap as the lukewarm 2-1 favorite in a wide-open affair. A final analysis of the toteboard showed four horses sent to the gate backed at 3-1 odds or better with the longest shot on the board dismissed at a modest 8-1.

Fairer weather is promised for the weekend activities at Bangor Raceway with sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures having been forecast for the Friday and Saturday cards which get underway starting at 12:15 p.m. (EDT). Bangor will conclude its 2022 meeting the following week with racing featured on Wednesday (Nov. 2) at 3 p.m. and Saturday (Nov. 5) at 12:15 p.m.