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Skowhegan, Maine …. As the new week began, Maine’s harness racing fairground circuit transitioned from Topsham to Skowhegan but despite the change in venue a couple of constants remain; a mare named June Parker (Millionaire Cam) keeps winning races, and a driver named Kevin Switzer, Jr remains the hottest commodity in all of New England.
Switzer, fresh off a driving championship and scoring three teaming triples from four appearances at the recently concluded Topsham Fair, has now set a high standard in the early stages of the Skowhegan State Fair meeting. The lightning hot commodity won five races on the opening day (August 10) card while finishing second (by a nose) and third in his other two starts, and accumulating a gaudy .841 UDRS after just one racing session.
June Parker (1:58-$8.60) remained one of Switzer’s daunting disciples when the five-year-old, Ryan Berry trained mare scored her fourth consecutive win on Sunday.
She bullied her way to the top, jockeying through a three way battle for the lead with Dreamfair Fantasy (Andy Harrington) and Commander Cathy N (Aaron Hall) before gaining the point just last the quarter.
From that point on, she glided through even fractions to nail the win by a half-length margin, recording her seventh win of the season in a seasonal best clocking.
“She’s a tough mare and at the top of her game right now” Switzer remarked, “She was in against some on-form competition today and I had to use her a bit earlier than I’ve had to before. Ryan’s got her good right now and she’s done everything we’ve asked her to during the win streak”.
Switzer’s other scores included, Some Fancy Beach (1:59-$4.60), who surfed gate-to-wire to secure her second win in-a-row; Caulfield (2:03.1-$8.60), who broke fifth from the second tier before rallying for his 44th career victory: Papa Clare (1:58.4-$5.40) who rode the pocket en route to a brand new lifetime mark; and Lyon’s Shelby (1:57.3-$7.60) who dispelled all challengers with a 58.1 back-half while roaring on the engine.
In other Skowhegan news, Hunter Lofthus was the other prolific pilot on the opening day card, scoring a pair of catch-driving victories behind Echos Sharkie (1:59.1-$3.80) and Downeast Spirit (1:58.4-$27.20).
The fastest win of the day belonged to Odds On Brexit (1:55.3-$3.00). The Michelle Lefebvre trainee led an accomplished field through a stern :57.2 back-half while holding off a determined Ranaldi (Dakota Niles) by a deteriorating half-length at the wire.
The win was the eighth of the season for the for the son of Rockin Image.
Racing will be featured on Monday at Skowhegan with a 1:00 pm (EDT) post time. Action will then head under the lights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when post time moves to 7:00 pm, before returning to 1:00 pm afternoon sessions to close out the meeting on Friday and Saturday.
For those not able to come to the track, wagering on the Skowhegan Fair will be available on most major wagering platforms including Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com as well as at all state of Maine off track betting parlors.
The video for Skowhegan’s races will be live-streamed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
by Mike Sweeney for Skowhegan State Fair
