by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

Salem, NH — Top driver Bruce Ranger extended his considerable lead in the standings at Rockingham Park on Friday when he found his way into the winner’s circle five times on the 12 race card.

Ranger won the fourth with G V’s Cam Can ($3.80), the sixth with Bold Airade ($3.60), the seventh with U Toe The Bike ($7.60), the eighth with Surprise Package ($9.80), and the 12th with Tye Dye ($3.60).

Ranger, the defending Coors Light Driver of the Year, currently has 68 wins on the season and he leads second place driver David Ingraham by 25 victories.

Three-year-old trotter Knights Tail kept his hooves right on the road to the $1.2 million Hambletonian with a decisive victory in the fifth race on Friday.

Trained and driven by Markuu Vartiainen, the colt pulled away to win by a very impressive 11 and a half lengths in the $3,000 race. Knights Tail’s final time was 1:56² for his personal best.

David Ingraham was named Coors Light Driver of the Week for his outstanding performance, including an upset win on 16-1 choice Fox Ridge Maryann in the $25,000 final of the Belle Acton series on the Fourth of July.

This year, Ranger and Ingraham have both been named the Coors Light Driver of The Week on two occasions.