Switzer swagger on display at Skowhegan

Skowhegan, Maine … Kevin Switzer, Jr continued his assault on Maine’s fairground circuit on Sunday (Aug. 13) as the lightning hot teamster wrangled three more harness racing wins during the opening day of the Skowhegan State Fair.

Switzer began his barrage in flashy gate-to-wire fashion behind the veteran pacer, Plus One (1:56.2-$5.40, Somebeachsomewhere), gaining the 25th win of the career for him for trainer Robert Marston. The win was one of two on the card for the Marston roster which earlier lit up the tote board in the first race of the meet when Bet One Joe (1:57) and driver Nick Graffam rewarded their backers with $38 win ticket returns.

The Switzer swagger on was on full display in the afternoon’s $6000 feature event as Hespoisedtopounce A (1:55.1-$11.20, Bettor’s Delight) deftly escaped the potential traffic of the second tier before mounting a bold first over gambit through a torrid 57.3 back-half to score the 3/4-length margin.

Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for owners Timothy Bojarski and Anthony Gruppo, Hespoisedtopounce A claimed the lion’s share for the 25th time in his career while posting the fastest win time of the young Skowhegan meeting.

Switzer completed his hat trick when the field for the finale was quickly hustled in behind the starting gate as a fast-moving thunderstorm approached the historic fairgrounds. Dashingly steering the 20-1 long shot, PC’s Expresso (1:59.4-$42.00), from near-last to first through a daring three-wide maneuver, Switzer measured the wire while posting the 3/4-length score.

The win was the 152 victorious drive of the season for the 36-year-old teamster.

Harness racing resumes at the Skowhegan Fair on Monday (August 14) at 1:00 p.m. (EDT). The weeklong meet then heads under the lights on Tuesday and Thursday (August 15 and 17) with post time slated at 7:00 p.m. and will conclude with 1:00 p.m. cards on Friday and Saturday (August 18 and 19). Saturday’s card will feature the Hight Memorial Invitational which annually attracts the finest horses in New England.

For complete card one results, click here.

For complete card two results, click here.

by Mike Sweeney, for Skowhegan State Fair