from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (November 16) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Harrah’s Chester, Dover Downs, and Scarborough Downs.

Toucam Sam triumphs in Chester’s Open Handicap

Chester, PA — Toucam Sam (Daniel Dube) and Sharky Osborne (Eric Goodell) went toe for toe into the first turn with Sharky Osborne setting the pace while Toucam Sam drifted back a hair to secure a perfect pocket trip in Harrah’s Chester’s $40,000 Open Handicap Pace on Sunday.

World Wide Racing Photos

Toucam Sam closed in the open stretch to win the Open Pace at Harrah’s Chester.

Sharky Osborne kept the field in line to a :27 first quarter. Palone Ranger (Tony Morgan) pulled from fourth from the pylons at the :55.3 half but was unable to keep pace with the pressure at the head of the pack.

At the head of the stretch, Dube pulled to the open stretch and found the finish line a quarter-length sooner than Sharky Osborne. It was Daniel Dube’s third of four wins on the day. Foiled Again, who has been absolutely stellar with six wins in seven starts, including a win in the Hudson Valley Invitational, trailed the field for three-quarters before putting in a strong last quarter to finish third. Cam’s Fool (Cat Manzi) took a second-over trip three-wide just before the three-quarter pole to finish fourth.

This was Toucam Sam’s first start for trainer Mark Kesmodel and his win put the 5-year-old Cam’s Card Shark horse over $300,000 lifetime.

— Katrina Shand

Draft Hanover, Mr Wiggles win Sunday features at Dover

Dover, DE — Draft Hanover made his introduction to the claiming ranks a winning one while Mr Wiggles equaled his lifetime record in twin features at Dover Downs on Sunday.

Fotowon photo

Draft Hanover (#8) rallied on the outside for a nose victory over Tongue Twister.

Ross Wolfenden and Draft Hanover went into high gear in the stretch as the only 3-year-old in a $25,000 Delaware claiming pace. The Dragon Again-Debras Charm colt wore down front-pacing Tongue Twister nearing the finish line in 1:54. It was the second win in a row and fourth in the last five starts for owners Dave Kryway and Meadowbranch Stables. Chipoffablueblock (Corey Callahan) took the show money.

Mr Wiggles tuned up for the start of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 2-year-old events next week by scoring a 1:53.3 victory in a $10,500 DSBF preliminary pace. The Badlands Hanover-Wiggle Hanover colt, steered by Jim Morand, is owned by Elmer Fannin and Teague Inc. It was his fourth win in six career opportunities. Al Ibad Spider (Tony Morgan) was runner-up. Travel Watch (Ben Stafford, Jr.) was the third finisher. Ray’s Big Bubba, the pre-race favorite, was scratched.

— Marv Bachrad

Sizzling Sunday for Kevin Switzer, Jr.

Scarborough, ME — While all eyes were fixed on Gary Mosher’s attempt to secure career win number 5,000, Kevin Switzer, Jr. quietly stole the show at Scarborough Downs on Sunday as the up-and-coming teamster outscored his more experienced rival, securing four winner’s circle sessions on the ten-race matinee card, compared to Mosher’s two.

Derek Davis photo

Kevin Switzer, Jr. piloted Lady Dreamer to her 18th seasonal win — one of four victories for the young teamster on the Sunday Scarborough Downs card.

The 21-year-old Switzer started the afternoon off in convincing fashion, finishing five lengths the best in the Sunday opener as he swooped up the backstretch to score the third consecutive win for Fred Ward’s Sugar Valley Cathy.

He then persevered with Shesaboldbeliever — nailing Onestepofbeingrich in a tight race three photo — then willed Bubba Larkin’s Scooty’s Dreamer across the wire after surviving a tiring front-end journey in the fifth.

Switzer saved his best for last as he and the prolific pacer Lady Dreamer completely decimated the eighth race field, opening up to an 18-3/4 length advantage at the wire as she registered her 18th seasonal victory. Ranked second in wins among older pacing mares in North America, Lady Dreamer now closes to within one win of Fernbrook Fiasco, who finished second to My Daly Bread at Lebanon Raceway on Friday.

Sunday’s sparkling performance vaults Switzer into fifth place on the leaderboard at Scarborough Downs with 68 victory laps taken during the 2008 season.

In other news, Gary Mosher continued his assault on the 5,000 win club on Sunday, scoring a driving double on the Scarborough card to record career wins 4,998 and 4,999. The Mosher watch will continue next Friday as Scarborough Downs swings back into action with a 12:30 p.m. post time.

— Michael Sweeney