Bangor, ME –The coastline of Maine contains one of the most bountiful fisheries in the world, providing delicacies like lobsters, clams, oysters, halibut, the renowned Atlantic salmon, and on occasion, even a shark or two. And on Friday (June 19), just 28-miles up the navigable Penobscot River from famed Penobscot Bay, a shark in equine guise was on the prowl at the harness racing venue of historic Bass Park.
Echoes Sharkie, a 7-year-old son of Shadyshark Hanover bared his fearsome teeth as he lined up behind the Bangor Raceway starting gate, lying in wait as the stable-mated tandem of GA Speed Matrix (Michael Stevenson) and Lou Ed Zeppelin (Shawn Thayer) jockeyed for position around the quarter-pole. Before the pace could deaden though, and with a swish of his mighty dorsal, Echoes Sharkie and driver Aaron Hall pounced into attack mode while stealthily advancing on his prey as the half-mile marker came into sight.
Overtaking his quarry as they propelled themselves upstream past the three-quarter-mile-marker, Echoes Sharkie toyed with his victims before the final gnawl resulted in the sweet taste of predatory victory as Lou Ed Zeppelin lay beached in second while GA Speed Matrix was scuttled in third.
Owned and trained by Jamie Gerard, Echoes Sharkie returned $5.40 to win while the 1:58.3 victory marked his fourth score of the season.
The win was one of three on the program for Hall who earlier on the card soared gate-to-wire with Hippo Hanover (2:00, $2.60) before extending Cool Man Dude’s (1:57, $2.20) win streak out to six-in-a-row. The win, the 13th seasonal bow for Cool Man Dude, elevated the Steven Vafiades trainee into second place on the North American seasonal dash winners list.
In other Bangor news, driver Heath Campbell scored three wins of his own on Friday, cementing his spot atop the Bangor Raceway leaderboard with 32 top tallies. Hall’s hat trick elevated him into second place on the leaders listing, with his 23 seasonal scores currently trumping McGwire Sowers’ 23.
Live harness racing at Bangor Raceway during the month of June will be conducted on a two-day-per-week schedule with the Wednesday cards going to post at 3 p.m. (EDT) and the brand new Friday matinee performances kicking off at 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday’s (June 24) performance will feature the 2026 Bangor debut of the 3-year-old filly pacing division of the Maine Sire Stakes program. Twin splits featuring purses in excess of $15,000 per are expected to headline the mid-afternoon card.
Bangor’s traditionally well-attended Sunday programs will be on hiatus until the month of July.
For those not able to come to the track, wagering and live video for Bangor Raceway, as well as hundreds of harness and thoroughbred racetracks across the world, is available on Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com.
For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining, and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, please visit the website at www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.