Skowhegan, ME — Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. held the hot hand at the fairgrounds on Monday (Aug. 15), scoring three wins during Skowhegan State Fair’s second session of harness racing and, in the process, claiming top dog status in the drivers’ standings during the early portion of the weeklong meet.

Switzer launched his attack on the oval with an insistent score behind Katelyn’s Angel in a $17,514 Maine Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Owned by Leighton Property and trained by Marc Tardif, the freshman daughter of Western Maverick-Avacal Bliss drew away to a 3-1/2 length margin at the wire while claiming her third career victory timed in a lifetime best 2:00.2.

Kevin Switzer Jr. completed his hat trick with Riproy. Shelley Gilpatrick photo.

Switzer’s second spin around the Skowhegan span resulted in victory number two on the day as King Royalty (Classic Card Shark) coasted three lengths the best in 1:58.3 to nab the 34th win of his career. The win was the third of the meeting for conditioner Zack Gray who remains perched atop the trainers standings of the young Skowhegan season.

Switzer completed his hat trick day by testing the speed limit of the quickly improving Skowhegan surface, touring the strip in a dazzling 1:56.4 jaunt behind the Benson Merrill trained Riproy (Mach Three). The mile, the fastest recorded at Skowhegan yet this year, hints of epic speed shows to come as the meet crescendos toward the wildly anticipated Hight Memorial Invitational on Saturday (Aug. 20).

Live harness racing continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Skowhegan with post time slated for 7 p.m., before returning to 1 p.m. afternoon cards on Friday and Saturday.