by Fred Nichols, for Bangor Raceway

Bangpr, ME — Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway at Bangor will host the 23rd annual edition of the Paul Bunyan Invitational on Friday evening (July 22). The field for this pace will be the fastest ever compiled in the state of Maine and will race for a purse of $22,500.

The probable favorite in the race will be Givenupdreaming, a 5-year-old owned in part by Marc Reynolds. The horse is a recent winner in the Open class at Plainridge in a remarkable time of 1:49.3. He is trained by Heidi Rohr and driven by Stephane Bouchard.

Bet You is also a recent winner at Plainridge, as well as both Saratoga and Yonkers. The youngest horse in the race at 4, he has a mark of 1:51.2 at Saratoga and is owned by long time Bunyan participant Tom Dillon, trained by Joe Nelson and driven by Bangor’s leading driver, Heath Campbell.

Escape The News is another entrant with a very impressive mark of 1:49.1 gained this year at the Meadows. Owned and driven by Ron Cushing and trained by Heidi Gibbs, the horse already has a win in his only appearance at Bangor this summer.

Northern Companion is an 8-year-old trained by Kelly Case and driven by her husband, David Ingraham. This horse has a seasonal mark of 1:51.4 and is fresh off a win in the top class at Scarborough Downs.

Race Me Villa is a 6-year-old pacer who has a mark of 1:51.3 set last year at Harrington Raceway. The horse is trained by one of Maine’s most successful of all time, Kevin Switzer, who is a co-owner with Kathleen Mofield and John Dickens and will be driven by Kevin Switzer Jr.

For decades the Maritime Provinces have supported Bangor with race worthy horses, so it is only fitting that the winner of last week’s Governor’s Plate at Summerside Raceway in Prince Edward Island will be joining the field. YS Lotus is a 5- year-old with a mark of 1:49.3 set last season at Pocono and is owned by Yves Sarrazin, trained by Rene Allard, and driven by the Maritimes leading driver, Marc Campbell.

The final entrant in the Bunyan will be the defending champion, A Sweet Ride, who won in a track record time of 1:52.3 which still stands as the fastest mile ever in Bangor’s 133-year history. A Sweet Ride is owned by P.S. McKenzie, trained by Jamie Gerard and driven by Eddie Davis Jr.

Post time for Friday’s races, which also feature Maine Standardbred Breeders races, is 6 p.m. The Paul Bunyan Invitational should start at about 8:15 p.m.