The 2005 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake season kicked off Sunday afternoon at Bangor Raceway, and the opening events were part of a card that also featured the fastest mile of the Maine racing season.

The first of two divisions of MSBS action for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings was contested for a purse of $6,020. Dragon's Descent (Ivan Davies) grabbed the lead in the first turn and never relinquished it as he paced to victory in 2:00.1. The sophomore gelding, who is owned by Harold and Nancy Dresser of Lyndonville, Vermont, cruised to his seventh win in thirteen career starts.

Favored Pembroke Cushy, owned by Bill Varney of Bangor, was upset in that opening division of sire stake action, but Varney nonetheless reached the winner's circle with an upset victory of his own in the second division, which was raced for a purse of $6,246. Billy Biltmore (Heath Campbell) rushed to the lead off the starting gate and was never seriously headed to win in a lifetime best 1:59.4. Valerie Grondin trains Billy Biltmore for Varney, and the colt recorded his second victory in only his third lifetime start.

Sunday's Bangor card also featured the fastest mile of the 2005 racing season as Aunt Emma cruised to and eight-plus length victory in 1:56.1. Not only was the effort the quickest mile in all of Maine this year, it is also the fastest mile ever by a female pacer at Bangor. Aunt Emma, who lowered her own lifetime mark by more than two seconds, is owned by Bruce Bridgham of New Gloucester, Maine and is trained by Fred Ward, Jr. of Brunswick.

The opening legs of the William Turner Memorial Trotting Series were also part of the impressive Bangor program on Sunday. Westridge Revenge, owned by Eddie Fournier of Auburn, won the opening division as the mare trotted to a new lifetime mark of 2:02.1 for driver Doug Gray. In the second division, Bill Varney, Valerie Grondin and Heath Campbell returned to the winner's circle, as Varney's mare Dark Lady notched her second victory of the season with a 2:02 effort.

In the Winners Over $5,000 trot, Linton Quirrion's Unshaken (Kevin Switzer) scored an upset victory in 2:01.4. It is the fastest trotting event of the season thus far at Bangor Raceway.

The Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes return to Bangor Raceway on Friday and Saturday July 1st and 2nd before the action moves south to Scarborough Downs on Sunday July 3rd.