Bangor, ME – Bangor Raceway roared back into action on Wednesday (Sept. 9), kicking off a short, mid-September soirée at historic Bass Park, with a 14-race program that featured twin $8,000 elimination legs of the lucrative Fred Nichols Memorial Pacing Series.
Sweet Jeff IR and driver Nick Graffam, held in high esteem as the post-time favorite in the first division, struck quick from the gate only to be dissed in their quest for an uncontested early lead by an aggressive open salvo fired by Liam’s Ace and driver McGwire Sowers, who hounded the determined front-runner, in overland fashion, through a brisk :27.4 opening quarter.
As Sowers finally relented, taking Liam’s Ace back to third behind P L Pasquale (driven by Kevin Switzer Jr.), Sweet Jeff IR was allowed a necessary breather, reaching the half in a still quick :57.1. And with P L Pasquale now breathing right down his neck, Graffam once again engaged Sweet Jeff IR’s accelerator pedal, zooming to three-quarters in 1:26.
Undeterred by that :28.4 third panel and refusing to lose contact with the pacesetter, P L Pasquale pulled alongside Sweet Jeff IR, entering the final turn in a lockstep duel, a posture that they dogged maintained throughout Bangor’s storied stretch, with nary an inch of daylight to be seen between the two as they seemingly reached the wire in synchronized unity.
As the tele-timer stood frozen at 1:55.1, the photo-finish print eventually separated the warriors by the officially recorded margin of a nose, with the gallant Sweet Jeff IR refusing to be passed despite the most regal of challenges from the noble P L Pasquale.
Th Kay C Crunch (Aaron Hall) rallied from far back, pacing his final quarter in an encouraging :28.2, to finish third.
Sweet Jeff IR, a 6-year-old son of Sweet Lou, is trained by Joseph Nelson for owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
The second division of the Nichols was more easily won by Massive Speed (Switzer), who was allowed to stroll to the quarter in an uncontested :29 and then left alone on the lead to an insurmountable :59 halftime clocking. From that point, Switzer dissuaded all challengers, putting away a perfunctory first-over attempt from Whats For Suppaah (Sowers) with a :27.2 third panel before cruising home through an astounding :55.4 back-half to notch the four-length, in-hand win, timed in 1:54.4.
The win was the third in-a-row for the 4-year-old Maine-bred son of Dude’s The Man, who is trained by Benson Merrill for owner Leighton Property.
The second leg of the series will be conducted on Wednesday (Sept. 16) with the $20,000 final to be held on Oct. 17 when Bangor Raceway launches its fall season.
Bangor Raceway’s September meeting will continue this weekend with Saturday’s (Sept. 12) 12-race program going to post at 3 p.m. and with Sunday’s (Sept. 13) card commencing at 12:10 p.m. (EDT). The brief meet will conclude on Wednesday (Sept. 16) with a 3 p.m. performance.
Bangor Raceway will swing back into action in October, playing host to the $400,000 (plus) Maine Sire Stakes Sophomore Championships on Saturday, Oct. 17, with post time slated for 3 p.m. (EDT) and will then continue racing on a three-day-per-week schedule through the first week in November.
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.
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.