Strong debut win for small barn

Punchesinbunches (Dali) made a late-season debut on Monday (Nov. 21) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District and gave harness racing owner/trainer/breeder Douglas Schweitzer his second win of the year.

The freshman colt had work to do at the half, sitting nearly 15 lengths back as Sand Walker (Daniel Clements) laid down opening fractions of :29 and :59.3.

Punchesinbunches moved three-wide as he swung onto the backstretch and tore through the gap. He narrowed it to six lengths by three-quarters in 1:30 and was just two behind as they entered the final turn. He lost ground as the widest challenger but marched to the front in the last eighth of a mile to score in 2:00.3.

Sand Walker held second over Come On Artie (Scott Wray).

PUNCHESINBUNCHES REPLAY

Schweitzer bred the winner, an offspring of his Rick Thunder mare Tommy White Sox. The horseman has also sent Colorado Buck to post 16 times this year with one win.

The late card saw a string of upsets headlined by the 57-1 photo-finish shocker of Artistic Pick (Artistic Fella). The eight-year-old got up by a nose to win for the first time in more than a year for owner/trainer Kyle Bossence. Jason Ryan piloted the gelding to his 19th lifetime win in 187 attempts. Ok Jasmine (Rock N Roll Heaven, Ryan, 1:57) also scored at 19-1, and Seel The Dark (Shadow Play, Natasha Day, 1:57) concluded the card with a 7-1 win.

Racing continues at The Raceway at the Western Fair District at 5:50 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink