Scarborough, Maine – The opening round elimination legs of the Joseph Ricci Memorial Trotting Series were contested at Scarborough Downs on Sunday (July 27) before a large and enthusiastic crowd on a brilliant southern Maine summer afternoon.
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Gordon Corey
drive
Likeabatoutahell
in a track
record
performance at
Scarborough
Downs on Sunday
– photo by EJS
Photography |
While Mister Lucky Vec (Jonathan Roberts) took top honors in a hotly contested first flight the mile of the day was turned in by the locally owned Likeabatoutahell who streaked around the oval in 1:58 to equal the track record for aged geldings set by Highway Hanover (Jason Bartlett) back in 2006.
Likeabatoutahell is owned and was bred by Michael Andrew of Gorham, Maine and while the five-year-old son of SJ’s Caviar is an accomplished competitor on the major league trotting circuit he had never contested a mile in his native New England until throwing hat into the Ricci Memorial ring.
“I’ve never even had my picture taken in the winner’s circle with him before today” said proud owner Michael Andrew, “I was excited but nervous watching him race up here today. I’m so proud of him and I wanted him to do well in the Ricci.”
Likeabatoutahell had never attempted a mile on a half-mile track before as he had collared the lion’s share of his $275,000 career bankroll on the bigger ovals at Dover, Chester, Pocono and The Meadowlands while under the expert handling of noted trot specialist Trond Smedshammer.
“Gordon Corey (his driver today) did a great job” Andrew continued, “He took it easy in the first turn and made sure he was comfortable then he moved him exactly when he should. I’m extremely happy”
Gordon Corey, a noted state of Maine colt specialist had only one week to familiarize himself with Likeabatoutahell.
“Mike brought him up from Trond last week and kept him at his farm for a few days then I had him at the Cumberland Fairgrounds to jog and go a couple of trips” Corey explained.
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State of Maine
native Kelly
Case cajoles
Kitty on to
victory in the
Mildred Williams
Series at the
Downs – photo by
EJS Photography. |
“I was apprehensive going into the race today with this being his first time on a half” continued Corey, “He’s such a big horse and had the rail and he’s a speedy sort of guy, but all that concern quickly dissipated as the race unfolded. He handled great with absolutely no impediments. He carried himself straight, handled the surface and the turns and was anxious to go forward. Those are all nice things in a race horse.”
Today’s nice performance earned Gordon Corey his fourth current track record at Scarborough Downs -- all four of them on the trotting side of the ledger.“That and dollar and a quarter will get me a cup of coffee at Cole Farms” Corey mused, “But I remember setting a track record here with a three-year-old pacer named Miles End Babe in 2:05.3 – how times have changed.”
The second round of eliminations for the Joseph Ricci Memorial will be held on Sunday August 3rd with the $50,000 final slated for August 7th.
In other news on Sunday, Kelly Case claimed victory in both Scarborough legs of the Mildred Williams International Ladies Driving Series with wins aboard Kitty and Son Of The City. “It’s always great coming home to the Downs” said the state of Maine native who remains undefeated in local Mildred Williams competition, “My family and I have a lot of fond memories of Scarborough.”
Over $700 was raised during the Mildred Williams event to benefit the Ribbons for Ribbons charitable drive for breast cancer research.
Scarborough Downs proudly features live harness racing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening at 4:15 pm (EDT). The popular Sunday matinees feature a 1:30 pm post time.
