Bangor, ME — Driver Aaron Hall dominated the action at Bangor Raceway on Friday (June 26), scoring five commanding victories over the course of the nine-race program while inching to within one victory of notching his 1,000th career win.
Hall’s five wins came in sequential order, beginning with a pair from the roster of his father, Craig. Hall first sat a patient pocket with JJ Maximus (1:56.4, $19.40) before pouncing past the front-running Press Time (McGwire Sowers) in deep stretch, and then secondly soared gate-to-wire with Ibite Ask Doug (1:56.4, $3.80), who scored his fourth win of the season in a seasonal best-equaling clocking.
Leaving Dad’s horses in the wash stalls, Hall then turned his attention to breaking the maiden of Dreamers Due (2:00.4, $2.40) for trainer Michelle Lefebvre. Powering his way to the top through a tepid :29.4 opening panel, the 3-year-old son of American Ideal never faced serious pressure from that point on as he strode to a solid length margin at the wire.
Hall’s own stable joined the rampage next as Jax Spratt (1:59.3, $2.60) rose confidently in class to wire an accomplished field of high-steppers while securing his second win-in-a-row in seasonal best time for owner William Phipps.
Hall concluded his cavalcade in a somewhat historic foray, continuing the biggest news story to hit Bangor Raceway this season, when Cool Man Dude (1:55.1, $2.60) won for the seventh consecutive time since being claimed for $6,000 by Scott and Michael McGee on April 25.
Trained by Steven Vafiades and now racing as an optional $15,000 claimer, the 8-year-old son of Western Vintage faced the sternest test of his current streak on Friday as Call Me Maverick (Michael Stevenson) took the battle to the pacesetter around the final turn, matching strides to the wire in typical dogged fashion, before falling a scant nose short of the upset at the wire.
The win was the 14th of the season for Cool Man Dude, who is currently noted as the second-winningest pacer in North America, just one win shy of Shine A Light’s standard.
Hall’s next opportunity to secure the 1,000th win of career will come on Saturday (June 27) when he appears with 10 drives at First Tracks Cumberland.
Live harness racing at Bangor Raceway during the month of July will be conducted on atwo-day-per-week schedule with the Wednesday cards going to post at 3 p.m. (EDT) and featuring the return of the popular Sunday afternoon performances, which will commence at 12:10 p.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.
For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining, and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, visit www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.