Bangor, ME — While driver Dan Deslandes held the hot hand once again at Bangor Raceway on Friday (July 7) there were certainly plenty of other accolades to go around during the first Friday session of the 2023 season.
Deslandes, who headed up a gang of four drivers who each made repeat appearances in the Bass Park winners circle, added three more wins on Friday, matching his total of top tier tallies from the Wednesday (7-5) program. Included in “Double D’s” driving triple were brisk, on-the-engine scores with; Lodi Machette Man (1:58.1-$3.20) for trainer Karl Butterfield; Rocknrolwilneverdie (1:58-$15.20), who won for the 71st time in his career; and SG Alexia (1:58-$4.40), who secured her 8th win of the 2023 season.
The dean of state-of-Maine harness racing, Walter Case, Jr, also joined the hit parade on Friday, aggressively grinding in first-over fashion with Always A Mystery (1:59.4-$3.20) before quickly turning a second-over trip into a first-over barrage with the Maine-bred Daughtry (1:57.1-$25.80), keying a hefty $1305. trifecta return in the process.
Bruce Ranger retained his perch atop the leaderboard with two driving wins of his own on Friday, maintaining a three win advantage over challengers Deslandes and Kevin Switzer, Jr while soaring gate-to-wire with a pair of 4-1 shots. Studio Session (2:01-$10.80) and Lyons Sharpie (1:56.1-$10.00), the latter romping by a 7-1/2 length margin in a new lifetime best for trainer Chris Lefebvre, both benefited from the talents of the native-born teamster.
Nick Graffam also contributed to the multi-win assault on Friday, holding firm by 1/2-length at the wire following a gate-to-wire gambit with American Flight (1:59.3-$6.80) before grinding out a more comfortable three-length margin after being flushed first-over with Outspoken Man (1:56.2-$13.80).
Maine’s extremely talented drivers colony will once again be out in full force as live harness racing returns to Bangor Raceway with a ten-race program scheduled for Sunday (7-9). The parimutuel card will get underway starting at 12:15 p.m. (EDT) and will be preceded by a pair of Maine Sire Stakes races which will be conducted as non-wagering events starting at 11:45 a.m.
Bangor Raceway proudly presents live harness racing every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) while the Friday and popular Sunday matinees get underway at 12:15 p.m.