Kevin Switzer, Jr wins six at Farmington Fair

Farmington, Maine – Harness racing driver Kevin Switzer, Jr just seemed to have one of those days on Wednesday (September 20). It was a day when he could do no wrong, every move he made was correct, and every opportunity taken produced rewards. It was the type of day that history teaches us is best enjoyed because they don’t come along very often.

So enjoy it he did.

Kevin Switxer, Jr won six races on Wednesday at the Farmington Fair.

Switzer’s six-pack began with a masterfully rated effort with Like McGook (Rock ‘N Roll World-Madonna Hanover) in a $14,917 non-wagering edition of the Maine Sire Stakes program for sophomore colts.  Switzer discouraged the competition by throwing in a strategic 32-second second panel, before sprinting home through a blazing :58.4 back-half, to secure the eighth win of the season for the Marc Tardif trainee.

Turning his attention to the overnight portion of the program, Switzer promptly whipped off victories in five of the first six races on the betting card.

Switzer showed that the possibilities were endless as he won for his father-in-law aboard the Butch Mac Kenzie owned and trained Infinite Symbol A (1:57.3-$4.80), who swooped from last to first to nab the first half of the daily double by a head at the wire.

He won as a catch-driver when he picked up the late driving assignment on Pacin Perfect (1:58.3-$8.40). Leaving the gate insistently, the duo soared gate-to-wire en route to a convincing 4-3/4 length margin in a seasonal best effort for the Richard Allaby trainee.

He won with a maiden as he parlayed a pocket-trip into a neck victory while splitting the field at the wire with Diligent Insight (2:01.2-$13.80) for owner/trainer Russell Lanpher III. The win was the first in 28 lifetime attempts for the three-year-old daughter of Dude’s The Man, the exciting new stallion who recently began standing stud in Maine.

Switzer deftly escaped the clutches of the second tier, winning from post eight with Golden Tree (1:59.1-$6.20). The Neal Grass trainee won his third consecutive start by a measured neck after circling the field at three-parts.

Kevin’s sister, Candace Brandstatter, helped complete the  Switzer six-pack as she entrusted one of her powerful New York invaders into her brother’s hands as the trotter, Luvcrunches (2:00-$7.80), strode confidently  around the fairgrounds oval to best an accomplished bunch by an in-hand 3-1/2 lengths. The win was the eleventh of the season for the seven-year-old daughter of Dontyouforgetit.

Switzer, a regular campaigner at the extended pari-mutuel meets at Bangor Raceway, First Tracks Cumberland, and Plainridge Park, has seemingly made Maine’s fairground circuit his own personal playground this year.

After strong showings at Topsham, Skowhegan and Windsor Fairs, the man in blue and black, with twelve wins already this week, sits poised to challenge for the Farmington driving title. And with the big fall fair meets at Cumberland and Fryeburg looming just on the horizon, Switzer figures to get the “Big Call” all fall long.

Harness racing resumes on Wednesday afternoon and will be featured on Friday and Saturday (September 22 and 23) this week at Farmington Fair with post time slated daily at 2:00 p.m. (EDT)

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney, for the Farmington Fair