by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — The Scarborough Downs Lady Luck Pacing Series concludes on Friday (June 20) with the rich $10,000 final scheduled as the feature race nine on the action packed program.

While witches have never been considered particularly lucky, The Weather Witch will call upon all her luckiest incantations as she attempts to capture her fourth consecutive victory.

“She appears to be equally comfortable setting the pace or tracking early speed,” noted Lewiston Sun Journal handicapper Sally Hinckley, “and while from the outside post she’ll probably elect the latter strategy on Friday, based on three straight dominate performances I expect her to pace right away from the competition.”

EJS Photography

The Weather Witch, seen here winning the opening round of the Lady Luck Pacing Series with Rob Dinning driving, is equally adept on the racecourse come rain or come shine.

A 4-year-old daughter of Real Desire out of the Big Towner mare Solstice Hanover, The Weather Witch is certainly a mare for all weather conditions, winning the opening leg of the Lady Luck series in the rain over a muddy Scarborough oval before stampeding to a brand new lifetime mark (1:56.2) the very next week over a surface rated as fast.

“I know that the Big Towner bloodlines have long been prized when handicapping for the mud,” continued Hinckley, “but I’ve never been a big proponent of the ‘mudder’ theory. I’m convinced that most horses will remain consistent regardless of the track conditions — in short, the best horse will generally win. The Weather Witch just proves my point.”

Owned by Emery Pelletier, The Weather Witch is campaigned by Scarborough’s leading trainer Randy Bickmore and will be teamed by regular driver Rob Dinning.

“Bickmore’s horses are fun to handicap,” Hinckley mused. “They’re generally well classified and tend to hold form over an extended period of time and Rob Dinning, who drives most of the stable entries, is developing into a major force on the southern Maine circuit. The Bickmore/Dinning combination remains formidable this season.”

In addition to topping the seasonal trainer’s standings the Randy Bickmore Stable has been lights out in stakes competition this season at the Downs claiming top prize in the Eugene D’Alessandro Memorial Pacing Series with Roya’s Romeo while securing the top seed in this Sunday’s (June 22) $10,000 final of the Tom Shehan Memorial Pacing Series with Harmony Oaks John.

The Weather Witch will attempt to cement the stable’s formidable stakes reputation on Friday at the Downs.

Scarborough Downs proudly features live harness action every Thursday, Friday and Saturday with first post slated for 4:15 p.m. (EDT). The popular Sunday matinee performances get underway at 1:30 p.m.