Bangor, ME — Kentuckysmokeshow moved with ethereal stealth along the backdrop of golden foliage at Bangor Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 24), kicking off the weekend action at the Queen City oval while speeding to her third consecutive victory, timed in a near-divisional-track-record clocking of 1:59.1, with driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. once again providing the spark from the sulky.
The 2-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous, making only her fourth lifetime appearance, stepped smartly through a contentious :29 opening panel, whizzing three-deep through the initial turn, and then seizing command a mere three-sixteenth into the mile.
Forging an opening half in a catchy :59.4, she maintained her poise throughout the epic, dispatching a perfunctory challenge from Redland Rayne (driven by Steven Wilson) at the three-quarter-mile junction, effortlessly floating through a :59.2 back-half, while posting the encouraging 2-1/4 length margin.
Kentuckysmokeshow is a recent addition to, and has made all her career starts from, the Eric Bickmore and Maryann Tompkins roster. Her effort on Saturday represented a new career best and fell just two-fifths of a second off Bangor’s 1:58.4 divisional-track-standard for freshman fillies, established in 2016 by Pembroke Perfect.
The victory was also one of three driving wins on the Saturday program for Switzer, who was matched in that category by fellow teamster Aaron Hall.
An 11-race card is next up on the schedule at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (Oct. 25) when the action once again kicks off bright and early at 11:45 a.m. (EDT).
Autumn harness racing at Bangor Raceway will continue on a three-day-per-week schedule through Nov. 7 with post time for the Wednesday cards set for 2:30 p.m. while the Saturday and Sunday matinees continue to step to the gate 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.
Programs for all Bangor Raceway cards are available for purchase both on track and online at www.trackmaster.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.