Maine’s glamour boy division rolled back into town on Wednesday, July 8 at Bangor Raceway for two $22,000-plus divisions for three-year-old colt pacers, with Real Horrorshow returning to the scene of his lone defeat three weeks ago.
Now that the Pine Tree State-bred star has returned to form winning in Sire Stakes action at First Tracks Cumberland last time out on June 27, track management allowed just win wagering, eliminating place and show bets, along with Real Horrorshow being barred from the wagering entirely.
Ironically, Rebels Revenge (Aaron Hall) became the 1-9 public choice and is the only horse to hand the previously unbeaten Real Horrorshow his first lifetime defeat in the Sire Stakes leg on June 17.
Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was back in action from pylon position in the $22,049 “Maine” event and proceeded to set moderate fractions of :30 and 1:01.1 while maintaining a two to three-length advantage over the pocket-sitting Rebels Revenge. There was no outer flow movement past the half and into the much swifter 1:29.3 third panel as the rest of the field was over a dozen lengths behind the two leaders. Down the stretch, Rebels Revenge tried valiantly to reel in the pacesetting Real Horrorshow, but to no avail. The wagering-barred “anointed one” tripped the timer in 1:57.3, grabbing his second consecutive victory and 11th of his career. Rebels Revenge finished second and Ghost Of Winter (Joey Mosher) was third.
Trained by the senior Kevin Switzer as part of Kdk Standardbreds, which also co-owns with Kathleen Mofield of Bedford, Massachusetts and Anthony Sivik Jr. of Orono, Maine, the son of Dudes The Man-Pretty Eyes increased his lifetime earnings to $164,374 through a dozen starts.
In the second $22,370 division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings, the lukewarm 4-5 favourite Itsjustmoney enjoyed pylon position, while even-money second choice Daytoremember was saddled with post seven and had his work cut out for him. Switzer Jr. protected Itsjustmoney’s inside placement and rolled through comfortable initial fractions of :29.1 and :59.1, while Heath Campbell was parked with Daytoremember but ranged up to second position by the time the field hit the midway point at historic Bass Park. Dudes The Jet (Dave Ingraham) moved first-over while heading to the 1:29 third station, picking up Nuh Uh (Andy Harrington) three-deep around the final turn. When the cavalry charge of pacers hit the top of the lane, Daytoremember bounced out of the pocket and proceeded to take command by mid-stretch. While the pacesetter fought back gamely, the race belonged to Daytoremember in 1:58.3. Nuh Uh finished third.
Owned and trained Valerie Grondin of Corinna, Maine, the son of Dudes The Man-Paxxie returned $4.20 to win in his third start of the season. He was also a Sire Stakes winner in the last leg hosted by Bangor. Now four-for-14 lifetime, his earnings are just of the six-figure threshold.
Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland will host the Maine Sire Stakes two-year-old colt pacers on Friday, July 10, with the three-year-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Sunday, July 12.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes; photo of Real Horrorshow winning on July 8)