Ranger wins Yankee Bambino; 7 for 11 on day

by Lynne Snierson, publicity director, Rockingham Park

SALEM, NH— Bruce Ranger drove Amesbury to an impressive three-length win in the $25,000 Yankee Bambino final at Rockingham Park on Friday as the track’s top driver racked up yet another stellar outing in winning seven of the 11 races on the card. Ranger now stands only one victory shy of tying the record he set last season for most wins in a single Rockingham harness meet.
Amesbury, who was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of eight three and four year old trotters, made a bold move in the stretch to finish in 1:56.2 on a fast track while the longest shot on the board, Touchstone, was second at 35-1 and Jabez finished third. Amesbury paid only $3.60 to win, but keyed a $58.40 perfecta and a $232.20 trifecta.
Amesbury, a three-year-old colt by SJ’s photo and Yentl who is trained by Donald Guidette, Jr., has now won twice at Rockingham this season. His other victory was in the third leg of the series leading up to Friday’s $25,000 final.
For Ranger, the day was special indeed as he visited the winner’s circle seven times, including the last three consecutive races on the program. He boosted his win total to 144, just one short of the 145 wins he accomplished last season to break the record. In 2003, Ranger won the 145 races during the 100-program meet. This year, Ranger’s 144 wins have come in only 71 programs of the 100 scheduled.
Early in the afternoon, the track presented Ranger with a special plaque and a winner’s circle celebration commemorating his eight-win day on July 17. Eight wins on a single card is a Rockingham record for either Thoroughbred or harness racing. The Thoroughbred mark, seven wins on one day, was set by jockey Willie Turnbull in 1942.
Ranger has now won seven on two separate occassions and has numerous multiple-win days. He also has a winning streak going of winning at least one race on every day he’s competed at Rockingham this season.
Live racing resumes tomorrow with an 11-race card and post time is 1:00 p.m.

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