Bangor, ME – Call it Lefebvre-palooza or maybe Graffam-obsession, but whatever the moniker, the fans at Bangor’s historic Bass Park feasted on the frenzy as driver Nick Graffam and trainer Michelle Lefebvre teamed up to emphatically serve up a five-course-banquet of winners on Sunday (Oct. 18).
Premier Star (1:59, $4.80), making her first start from the Lefebvre roster, jump-started the bandwagon on Sunday, retaking the brief early lead allowed to Santa Fe Kat (driven by Joey Mosher), before coasting all the way to the wire through an unhurried 1:00.2 back-half. The win marked the third successful effort of the season for the former Plainridge Park regular as she ably negotiates her late season re-acclimation from Bay State to Pine Tree State surroundings.
Next, Pink Ruby (1:57.2, $4.40), making just her second start from the Lefebvre barn, built upon a sterling gate-to-wire effort at last week’s Fryeburg Fair, proving her versatility, while thriving through an extended first-over grind on Sunday at Bangor. At Graffam’s behest, the recent Saratoga invader willfully obliged, easily collaring post-time favorite Eazy Hunting (Andy Harrington) in mid-stretch, and eventually extending out to an in-hand, 2-1/4 length margin at the wire.
Graffam also utilized the first-over strategy to secure the third seasonal win for Keystone Maxim (1:59.4, $5.80), overtaking the front-running Urika Blue Chip (Joey Mosher) as they rounded the final turn.
Switching things up, Graffam then chose the pike route while gliding gate-to-wire with Buy In (1:56.3, $2.20), yet another relative newcomer to the Lefebvre stable, who has now displayed imposing form in back-to-back romps since relocating from Monticello Raceway.
It’s important to be good but just as handy to be lucky, as demonstrated when the Lefebvre barn benefited from placings to secure their fifth win of the afternoon.
YS Do It Right (1:57.4, $4.40), gallantly attempted to track down the pace-setting Jones Hanover (Joey Mosher) through a rollickingly robust mile, only to fall a scant nose short of his conquest at the wire. With the inquiry light illuminated though, the judges determined that Jones Hanover had committed a pylon rule violation while rounding the seven-eighths bend, necessitating placements on the infield board, and eventually elevating YS Do It Right into the winner’s column for the 15th time this season.
The win also elevated the 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight into a tie for sixth place on the USTA’s Top Performers List, which tracks the winningest horses in North America this season. Among the quintet of horses tied with YS Do It Right at fifth is Skyway Freakshow, another local campaigner who secured her 15th seasonal win on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Bangor Raceway. They both aspire to the top status held by Cool Man Dude, still yet another local campaigner, who secured his continent leading 20th seasonal win on Saturday at historic Bass Park.
In other Bangor news, Record Year (1:57.3, $4), was confidently piloted to the 50th win of his career by driver Aaron Hall on Sunday. The 10-year-old son of Shadow Play and winner of $473,027 in lifetime earnings, is owned and trained by Dalton Lee.
The win was one of three on Sunday’s card for Hall.
Racing at Bangor Raceway will continue on a three-day per week schedule through Nov. 7. Post time for the Wednesday cards will be at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) while the Saturday and Sunday matinees will step to the gate bright and early at 11:45 a.m.
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.