Kevin Switzer, Jr wins five at Bangor Raceway

Bangor, Maine – Day-to-day harness racing driver dominance has been one of the overriding storylines at Bangor Raceway this season as five-win performances, once considered a rarity, have seemingly become everyday occurrences. Dan Deslandes kicked off the five-win spectacular on May 31, followed three weeks later by Bruce Ranger’s hand full just last Sunday (June 18) and now Kevin Switzer, Jr becomes the third member of the “quintet trio” after overpowering the competition on Wednesday (June 21) afternoon.

The Switzer sizzle began early on the card as he delivered with Next Big Thing (Shadow Play) in 1:55 for veteran trainer, Richard Bartlett. Positioned second over, Switzer tipped his charge three-wide at three-parts before coasting to a two-length margin at the wire. The win was the first of the season. He paid $4.40 to win.

NEXT BIG THING REPLAY

Switzer quickly doubled his tally in the very next race, dictating the tempo through an aggressive first-over assault with the Jamie Gerard trained trotter, Always A Good Time (Triumphant Caviar) in 2:00. The win was the third of the season for Always A Good Time, with all three wins coming with Switzer holding the reins. He paid $15.20 to win.

Maine Sire Stakes action provided a marquee platform for Switzer to display his talents during the mid-portion of the program with Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World-Madonna Hanover) in 1:58 remaining undefeated on the season. Insisting on the top spot after pouncing, catlike off the gate, he withstood a persistently stern, overland challenge from an impressive Colt Bennett (Bruce Ranger) to nab top honors in the $15,367 stakes event and paid $3.00 to win.

LUKE MCGOOK REPLAY

Bush Man N (Art Major) won in 1:55 and paid $6.80 to win along with providing Switzer with his fourth winning opportunity. The duo wired a rather accomplished field in the $5,000 Blue Seal Feeds Pace as the Kiwi-bred won for the fourth time this year while taking a seasonal mark for trainer Benson Merrill.

Switzer concluded his Queen City conquest with a gate-to-wire score aboard the Kevin Chase trainee, Daydreamermistirae (1:58.1-$22.40).

In other Bangor news, trainer Marc Tardif ruled the Maine Sire Stakes roost on Wednesday while winning both of the $15,367 splits. So Rock N’ Roll (Western Maverick-So So Sweet) in 1:57.1 joined his aforementioned stablemate, Luke McGook in shared bragging rights as driver Walter Case, Jr engineered a perfect pocket pouncing strategy for So Rock N’ Roll, while smartly getting up at the wire. The win was one of two on the program for Case. The winner paid $3.40.

SO ROCK N’ ROLL REPLAY

Trainer Stephen Mason continued his torrid ways on Wednesday sending two more winners to post (OrrsTerror and K D Overdrive) while doubling his seasonal Bangor tally since moving his tack to the Queen City oval last week.

Maine Sire Stakes action returns to Bangor Raceway on Sunday (June 25) when the three-year-old filly pacing division makes its first northern circuit appearance of the season.

Bangor Raceway proudly presents live harness racing every Wednesday with post time at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 12:15 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway