Bangor, ME — Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. moved the needle closer toward a milestone on Wednesday (June 14) as the 35-year-old state of Maine native posted a powerful four win performance at Bangor Raceway. The impressive outing left him just four wins removed from his 3,000th career driving victory.
Switzer kicked off his grand slam day with a “never in doubt” sort of journey as he confidently steered the well-regarded Luke McGook (Rock N’ Roll World-Madonna Hanover) to his ninth career victory in a $15,376 split of Maine Sire Stakes action. Touring the oval in an in-hand 1:57, the dual-staked duo gave due notice that they would once again be major players in both the Maine and Massachusetts-bred programs after finishing as runner-up in both championships as a freshman.
The going proved not quite so easy as the overnight portion of the program commenced when Switzer found himself grinding first over with Plus One (1:56.4-$3.20) against a determined, front-running, Pillage And Burn (Shawn Thayer). Seemingly dispatched by his rival after a spirited battle, Plus One found a new gear while rounding the final turn before digging in gamely to overcome in deep stretch. The win was the first of two on the program for trainer Robert Marston.
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Switzer and Marston wasted little time in reclaiming winner’s circle glory as Rockadella (1:59-$70.80) self-propelled from post eight en route to a gate-to-wire long shot romp in the very next contest. The developing 3-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight took a new lifetime mark while claiming her third career win and keying a $5,054.20 trifecta in the process.
Choosing the pike route once again, Switzer capped his four-win day with a relative walk through the park with Ranaldi (1:54.4-$8.60). The 4-year-old Maine-bred son of Western Maverick overpowered his competition, jogging to the wire 5-3/4 lengths the best, while recording his 10th career win for trainer Cain Mackenzie.
In other non-Switzer news at Bangor, driver Andrew Harrington and trainer Sara Harrington teamed up to send two winners to post with Racing For Rick (1:57-$9.40) and Fern Hill Flight (1:55.3-$7.20) sharing stable bragging rights.
Driver Nick Graffam also claimed victory twice on the card including a 1:53.1 score with The Bird Dance N ($3.40) in the $6,500 Winners Over feature. The win was the third in a row for the Karl Butterfield trainee and the fastest of the meeting at Bangor Raceway this season.
Bangor Raceway proudly presents live harness racing every Wednesday with post time at 3 p.m. (EDT) with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 12:15 p.m.