by Michael Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Kevin Switzer Jr. joined the prestigious “Mr. 2,000 Club” on Sunday (Aug. 7), notching the milestone win with a powerful performance in the $10,000 Howie Bamford Memorial Invitational before an overflowing ‘Family Fun Day’ crowd at Scarborough Downs.

Derek Davis photo

Kevin Switzer Jr. tallies his 2,000th career driving victory at Scarborough Downs by the slimmest of margins.

Driving a horse from his father’s roster, the 29-year-old Switzer gunned Race Me Villa off the car and positioned his steed close up in the pocket behind the expected speed of A Sweet Ride. The tandem drafted behind daunting fractions of :27.4, :55.4 and 1:24.2 before pouncing three-wide off the final turn to secure the narrow victory over the hard-charging Escape The News (Ron Cushing) to stop the clock in 1:54 flat.

Bet You (Heath Campbell) rallied for third.

Race Me Villa, a 6-year-old son of Village Jolt, is owned in partnership by KDK Standardbreds of Harrington, Del., Kathleen Mofield of Bedford, Mass. and John Dickens of Kennebunk, Maine.

Scarborough Downs features live harness racing with twilight cards on Friday and Saturday with post time at 4:30 p.m. EDT. The Sunday matinees get underway at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or our Facebook page.