The Pine Tree State’s three-year-old pacing fillies helped kick off Maine’s legendary fair season at Bangor Raceway on Thursday (July 24) with two $16,000-plus divisions competing in the twilight.
In the first $16,029 division Chasing Dudes (8-5, Andy Harrington) blasted out to the lead from the outside, followed closely by Glorilla (15-1, Aaron Hall) who ducked quickly into the garden spot.
The field remained in single file fashion through the :30 quarter. McGwire Sowers (29-1) tipped Dudes Treasure from fifth while heading into the 1:01.4 half, which flushed the cover of wagering favourite Leanne Marie (3/5, Mike Cushing). With the favourite ranging up swifty, Leanne Marie was able to duck into the two hole left by a gapping Glorilla, as Dudes Treasure continued her uncovered journey through the 1:31.2 third panel.
Around the final turn an advancing Dudes Treasure was closing the gap on the pacesetting Chasing Dudes, and then jumped off stride, giving the favored Leanne Marie plenty of room to tip out and roll down the stretch a half-length victor in 2:01.3.
Driven by Mike Cushing for trainer Charlene Cushing and owners/breeders Pamela Smith, Jane DiPompo and Charlene Cushing, the daughter of Artistic Fella picked up her third stakes win of the season, paying $3.20 to win. Her seasonal winnings are now $32,387, and she leads the division in the point standings.
Chasing Dudes hung on for second; Glorilla finished third.
In the second $16,030 division for sophomore sidestepping distaffs, it was a cavalry charge down to the wire with a blanket finish and just a quarter length separating the first three fillies.
At the start the favourite Dudes Pretty Chick (7-2, Heath Campbell) went out for early position along with Wishin For Kisses (4-1, Sowers) who ultimately took command. Through the first turn Dudes Pretty Chick made a break causing confusion among trailing horses and ducked inside pylons. Wishin For Kisses brought the field through the :29.4 opening panel with Audry (5-2, Steve Wilson) sitting second and Moonbeam Magic (14-1, Dave Ingraham) third.
While heading past the midway point in 1:01.2, Kevin Switzer moved first up with Thinkin Bout Life (3-1), followed by Dudes Pretty Chick who regained her composure. They battled down the backside the final time, with the outer flow gaining ground into a 1:32.1 third panel. With the pacesetter calling it a day, Thinkin Bout Life was rallying down the lane with Dudes Pretty Chick alongside and Moonbeam Magic looking swoop on the far outside. Under the dusk of sunset Thinkin Bout Life prevailed by a tight quarter length in 2:04.2, with Moonbeam Magic getting up for second and Dudes Pretty Chick hanging on for third, all within a quarter length.
Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer/owner/breeder Marc Tardif, the triumph was the second consecutive victory for the daughter of Dudes The Man, increasing her seasonal total to $23,780. She paid $8.80 for the score.
Looking ahead on Friday (July 25), Cumberland hosts two $11,623 USD divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Saturday (July 26) all the Maine-bred trotters converge upon Cumberland for six $11,000-plus USD divisions for both two- and three-year-olds of both genders. Sunday’s (July 27) special 12 noon card welcomes two $11,000-plus USD divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers.
The bright lights of historic Bass Park provided the perfect backdrop to a display of prowess and longevity as a pair of well-heeled fourteen-year-olds dazzled at the first session along Maine’s fairground circuit when the ponies took center stage at the Bangor State Fair on Thursday.
They may be careening through their final seasons at the races, but Pillage And Burn and Archetto Hanover seem intent on giving no quarter to age. Still mixing it up with the younger set and taking the kids to school, their proclivity toward success was on full display on Thursday when both warhorses rocketed off the gate with Pillage And Burn (Shawn Thayer) gaining the lead before the 1/8th-pole and with Archetto Hanover (Andy Harrington) breathing fiercely down Thayer’s neck.
A quick opening panel of :28.3 put the rest of the field quickly in line and a stern back-half of :57.3 kept them mostly at bay as Archetto Hanover doggedly stalked Pillage And Burn’s determined pace. Finally duking it out in a match race of sorts through the storied Bass Park stretch, a mere 3/4-length margin separated the elder statesmen at the wire in a sensationally fleet 1:57.3.
When the dust had settled, it was Pillage And Burn ($13.80) earning his 47th career curtain call as the accomplished son of Cams Card Shark paraded for owner/trainer Douglas Beckwith. The win in a seasonal best clocking was his third winners circle session of the season.
Archetto Hanover, a hard-hitting son of Bettors Delight who is owned and trained by Marianna Monaco, begrudgingly settled for the runner-up placing for the 70th time in his career, a career highlighted by 42 top tallies.
With 89 wins between them and plenty of racing opportunities remaining, the fans along the state-of-Maine circuit seem likely to be treated to this unique brand of the Battle of the Ages well into the fall.
In other Bangor State Fair news, Miss Quality (1:58.1-$4.40) extended her win streak out to five in-a-row with a sterling gate-to-wire performance.
Powering off the car from post seven, she and owner/driver McGwire Sowers created serious air while powering to the quarter in a blazing :28.1. Insistently grabbing the lead just before entering the second turn, the nine-year-old daughter of Quality Western never felt pressure from that point home as she jogged to her eighth win of the season for trainer Autym Sowers.
“She’s a fun little mare” McGwire Sowers remarked in a post-race trackside interview, “She loves her job, she really does”.
Maine’s harness racing circuit continues at First Tracks Cumberland this weekend in a preamble to the reemergence of the Pine Tree State’s fabled fairground circuit. Fair racing rolls into high gear on Aug. 3rd when the Topsham Fair holds the first of five sessions with a 4:00 pm post time.
Bangor Raceway will remain open for simulcast wagering on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule while live harness racing remains on hiatus until a four day fall meet opens on Sept. 3rd.
(Bangor State Fair)