Skowhegan, ME — The Hight Invitational, long noted as one of the top-rated invitational events along the New England harness racing circuit, headlined a stellar 14-race card at Maine’s Skowhegan State Fair on Saturday (Aug. 20). Seven accomplished pacers boasting combined earnings in excess of $2 million gathered under idyllic late-summer conditions to contest the wildly anticipated $15,000 event.

Real Peace was a 1:53.2 winner. Shelley Gilpatrick photo.

Soho Leviathan A (Michael Stevenson) cast the first harpoon, taking no prisoners during a smart :26.2 opening quarter while being aided in the creation of early speed by persistent pressure applied by Rock Diamonds N (Ron Cushing). Cushing relented, reining his charge back to the pocket seat just shy of the quarter-mile marker, allowing Stevenson a brief breather as the field rounded the second turn.

Approaching the three-eighths-mile marker, Ry’s Red Rocket (Matthew Athearn), the lone mare in the invitational field, revved up her booster engines in a quest to engage the front-runner, only to be beat to the punch by Rock Diamonds N who squeezed off the pylons, exchanging a pocket trip for a first-over journey, as the field hit the half in :55.3.

As the two Southern Hemisphere campaigners locked horns, Real Peace (Heath Campbell) appeared in a near hopeless position. While consigned to a fourth-over journey well back of twice used cover, Campbell made the daring decision to duck back to the inside as the pack rounded off the five-eighths turn. Progressing precariously along the pylons while the leaders reached the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1, Campbell found the tiniest sliver of daylight as Rock Diamonds N began to lose steam, sling-shotting around the final bend before posting a brilliantly executed one-length victory timed in 1:53.2. Soho Leviathan A held firm in the face of persistent pressure to secure the runner-up placing while Rocksapatriot (David Ingraham) claimed the show dough.

Real Peace, a 7-year-old son of Real Desire, is trained by Joseph Nelson for the ownership of Burke Racing Stable, Scott Dillon, and Weaver Bruscemi. The win was the 34th of the pacer’s career and pushed his lifetime earnings to $376,481.

In other Skowhegan news, Heath Campbell claimed top dog status in the drivers’ standings, making 14 trips down Victory Lane while earning more than $105,000 in purses over the six-day meeting. Valerie Grondin will wear the laurels as leading Skowhegan conditioner this season on the strength of her nine training wins.

The Maine harness racing circuit will be on hiatus for much of the coming week before roaring right back into action with eight days of excitement at the Windsor Fairgrounds. Windsor begins its much anticipated meet on Saturday (Aug. 27) with post time slated for 1 p.m. (EDT).