Silent Swing Steps Up to the Plate in Mid-Summer Classic | |||
Michael Sweeney for Scarborough Downs | |||
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A large and enthusiastic gathering greeted the renewal of the $25,000 Mid-Summer
Classic Invitational on Back to the Track Day on Sunday (7/15) as Scarborough Downs
pulled out all the stops to welcome eight top-class invitational pacers to the
Seaside Oval.
Answering the call from the mid-Atlantic circuit, Silent Swing was sent north by
regular trainer, Mark Ford, entrusting his care to State of Maine trainer, Valerie
Grondin, fresh off a 1:51.2 score at Saratoga. The 10-year-old son of Northern
Luck quickly doubled down, claiming victory in determined and impressive fashion,
bullying his way to a hard-fought lead and holding off a field of determined challengers
at the wire, stopping the clock in a torrid 1:54.1 en route to recording his 58th
career victory.
“I want to thank Scarborough for the invitation, and Mark for sending the horse
to us,” said winning driver Heath Campbell. “I felt confident steering him aggressively
today -- he does have $1.5 million on his card. Turns out, he’s a pretty push-button
sort of horse, he did everything we asked of him today.”
Silent Swing is owned by David Shea of Campbellville, Ontario, Canada, and Mark
Ford of Campbell Hall, New York.
Art’s Sake (Ron Cushing) was second; Mr Vitti (Shawn Thayer) was third.
Scarborough Downs Back to the Track Grand Prize winner was Brian Powell of Ocean
Park, Maine. Brian is invited back to the track with 9 of his friends to enjoy
dinner at the races, with $300 in betting money.
Live racing returns to the Downs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 4 pm and Sunday
at 1:05 pm.
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