by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — After having an award winning year during the 2011 campaign in his native Pine Tree State of Maine, Kevin Switzer, Jr. tested the waters at Monticello Raceway over the winter months and found it to his liking.

But Switzer isn’t the only one that is pleased. In recent weeks local trainers have availed themselves of Switzer’s driving talents and the 24-year-old reinsman is moving ahead big time.

Geri Schwarz photo

Kevin Switzer, Jr. and Vijay Star cruised to a seven length triumph in 2:04

On March 19 Switzer had his first four-bagger here and on Thursday (March 29) he matched that total, scoring four winning drives on the eight-race card. And before the day was done Switzer added two second place finishes to his daily total.

After finishing fourth in the second race on the card, Switzer then proceeded to win both the third and fourth races. He scored a 2:00.4 victory with Danby Racing Inc.’s Sweepstake Jake ($9.70) and then copped the fourth with Dr. Donald Roth’s trotter Vijay Star ($3.60) in 2:04.

After two consecutive second place finishes in the next two contests, Switzer then won another pair. He won the seventh with Charles Droege’s Lady On The Attack ($7.20) in 2:00 and then won the eighth and final race with Mike Funke’s Comanche Hall ($5.20) in a 1:59.4 clocking.

“I had some live mounts and they raced well for me today,” Switzer said at day’s end. “I’m really appreciative of the local trainers who are allowing me to drive their horses.”

Recently it’s been odd for Switzer’s mounts not to make the board and his universal driving average has been steadily moving up as has his win total. With his latest flurry, Switzer’s UDR has swelled to .359 and his 34 driving victories in just 170 starts currently ranks him seventh on the local leaderboard.