by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Two rounds of eliminations have resulted in back-to-back track record performances and have culled from the hopefuls perhaps the finest field of horses to ever race in the state of Maine.

The star studded cast will line up behind the gate on Saturday (August 9) at Scarborough Downs as the eighth edition of the Joseph Ricci Memorial Trot, New England’s premier trotting event, takes center stage.

EJS Photography

Scorpion Moon has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $50,000 Joseph Ricci Memorial Trot.

“Publicists throw phrases like ‘finest field’ around liberally,” said Scarborough race secretary Joseph Figiulo, “But in this case the hyperbole fits. We were hoping for a good turnout for this year’s Ricci Series and were absolutely blown away by the response. Any number of these trotters are capable of rewriting the record books on Saturday.”

The all-age trotting mark at Scarborough Downs had held firm since 1988 when Friendly Face and driver Esa Lahtinen scorched the southern Maine oval in 1:57.3, but the landscape changed just last weekend as Dink Adoo and driver Bobby Sumner equaled the cherished speed standard.

“For years we felt confident that the trotting mark would never be challenged,” said Downs’ marketing manager Susan Higgins. “All that changed in a blink of an eye as we began to realize the caliber of horses that had been assembled for the Ricci Memorial series. The level of expectation for Saturday’s race continues to crescendo.”

Ghosts of the past have been reawakened with the approach of Saturday’s spectacular as talk has now even begun of supplanting the overall state of Maine trotting mark.

“Greyhound and Sep Palin set the state standard of 1:57 flat on the old Kite Track at Old Orchard Beach back in 1939 when the Grand Circuit used to call,” continued Higgins. “Saturday’s field of trotters has everyone talking about the great horse’s 69-year-old record and has created just a hint of Grand Circuit-type excitement once again in Maine.”

Scorpion Moon (Jonathan Roberts) has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite following an impressive 5-3/4 length victory in last weekend’s unhurried 1:58 clocking. Co-track record holder Dink Adoo (Bobby Sumner) has been made the second choice at 7-2 odds.

First post for the ten-race program is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. (EDT) with the $50,000 Joseph Ricci Memorial carded as race nine.

$50,000 Joseph Ricci Memorial
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1-Victors Vickey-Brent Thayer-Patricia Sumner-7-2
1A-Dink Adoo-Robert Sumner-Patricia Sumner-7-2
2-Mister Lucky Vec-Heath Campbell-Leonard LeBlanc-9-2
2A-Bo Didley N-David Ingraham-Leonard LeBlanc-9-2
3-Cocktail Hour-Ivan Davies-Ivan Davies-7-1
4-Likabatoutahell-Gordon Corey-Gordon Corey-4-1
5-Kerogen-Kim Ireland-Wendy Ireland-5-1
6-Scorpion Moon-Jonathan Roberts-Tracey Brainard-5-2

Scarborough Downs proudly features live harness racing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. (EDT). The popular Sunday matinees feature a 1:30 p.m. post time.