Skowhegan, ME – 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 Juneparker 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 at the recently concluded Topsham Fair, has now set a high standard in the early stages of the Skowhegan State Fair meeting. He won five races on Sunday’s opening day (Aug. 10) card while finishing second (by a nose) and third in his other two starts, accumulating a gaudy .841 UDRS after just one racing session.
Juneparker (1:58-$8.60) remained one of Switzer’s daunting disciples when the 5-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 past 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 was 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 lifetime mark; and Lyon’s Shellby (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) and driver Drew Campbell. The Michelle Lefebvre trainee led an accomplished field through a stern :57.2 back-half while holding off a determined Ranaldi (Dakota Niles) by three-quarters of a length at the wire.
The win was the eighth of the season for the son of Rockin Image.
Racing will be featured on Monday at Skowhegan with a 1 p.m. (EDT) post time. Action will then head under the lights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday when post time moves to 7 p.m., before returning to 1 p.m. sessions to close out the meeting 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 livestreamed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@mainefairharnessracing and the live audio of Skowhegan’s cards will be available along the online radio network of Mix Maine Media at The Mix 107.9 FM, True Country 93.5 FM, and THE Score 1160 AM, as well as online at www.mixmaine.com