Bangor, Maine …. Benson Merrill currently sits at the top of the running coach leaderboard at Bangor Raceway. His 24 season wins surpass both the selections of Valerie Grondin and Autym Sowers, who each have 19 top finishes. But every now and then the 35-year-old conditioner feels the need to let someone else check his horses as they leave the paddock, donning his maroon and white colors to join the everyday sulky-sitters behind the starting gate.
Such was the case at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (October 12) when Merrill called himself to compete in back-to-back races, first with Bush Man N (Art major) and then with Art Of Endurance.
Merrill aggressively yanked Bush Man N (1:58.1-$8.60) out of the car and beat the regular catch drivers, securing the pike position after a brief battle entering the first turn. Merrill used equal fractions throughout and extremely bravely kept Art Major’s ten-year-old son in the lead before refusing to give in at the wire despite a persistent late charge from The Devils Cash and driver David Ingraham.
Owned by William Tracy, the victory marked the 26th victory for Bush Man N.
BUSH MAN N-REPEAT
With barely time to enjoy the winner’s circle photo op before raising his sulky again, Merrill changed tactics in the very next match and opted for a first-over strategy with Art Of Endurance (1:59-$3.00). He sends his attack on the chase of the leader Ultimate Flyer N (Timothy Hudson) and steadily creeps towards the rabbit, Art Of Endurance (Art speech) had all the momentum as he swung around the corner, eventually stretching out to a 1-1/4 length margin at the wire.
The victory marked the 26th career triumph for the pride and joy of the New York-based ownership consortium of Thelma and John Kiernan, Jr. and Thomas Bemont.
ART OF ENDURANCE REPEAT
Merrill’s driving double matched those of the team’s favorites, David Ingraham, Heath Campbell and McGwire Sowers, but was surpassed by the meet’s leading driver, Kevin Switzer, Jr, who had three winners on the day.
In other Bangor news, prizes were the order of the day as a pair of solid long-range shots lit up the infield carrying board on Sunday.
David Ingraham paid phone numbers as he zoomed from last to first with the 32-1 shot, Downeast Foxy Lady (1:59.3-$66.40), posting a $2 trifecta return of $2668.80. The win was the first for Downeast Foxy Lady since her 9-2-23 score at the Windsor Fair, also with Ingraham on the bike.
McGwire Sowers sent the crowd home dreaming of future prize play when he scored a thrilling rally bid with the 25-1 shot, He’s Real Keen (1:57.3-$53.20). Combined in the too-three with On The Town (14-1) and KP’s Magic Macy (16-1), the longshot trio returned $7,388.20 for a $2 trifecta ticket.
Live harness racing at Bangor Raceway will take place three days a week in October with post times of 3:00 PM (EDT) for the Wednesday twilight cards and with start times of 12:10 PM for the Saturday and Sunday matinees.
For those who can’t make it to the track, betting and live video for Bangor Raceway, as well as hundreds of harness and thoroughbred racing tracks around the world, are available on Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com (http://www.hollywoodraces.
For complete information on live racing, simulcast betting, gaming, dining and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, visit the website at www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com (http://www.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Mike Sweeney for Bangor Raceway
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