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.
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.