Skowhegan, ME – It’s not often that a post time favorite is not involved when an early speed duel erupts at a harness track but that was exactly the scenario that played out at the Skowhegan State Fair on Tuesday (Aug. 18) when a a pair of 8-1 shots left the gate hard against each other, with neither showing any inclination toward relinquishing their desire for the front-end seat.
Kevin Switzer, Jr sent Mallard briskly into the close, first turn at Skowhegan, confident in his ability to control the tempo from his coveted post one starting spot. But McGwire Sowers also had designs on a forwardly placed journey as he sent Luckisontheway hard into the turn from the outside wing.
As the tandem matched strides to the 1/8th-mile marker, the fans inched closer to the fronts of their seats, as it quickly became evident that a classic game of hardball was developing under the bright lights of the historic mid-Maine racing venue.
Nose to nose the combatants reached the 1/4-pole timed in :27.4, with Mallard skimming the styrofoam and Luckisontheway taking all the brisk Skowhegan night air, and with no quarter to be given, the battle-tested steeds continued their lockstep matchup toward a torrid :56.2 clocking at the half.
“Oh, yeah, that Mallard, they were right” Sowers noted after the race, “They said he doesn’t try too hard from behind but he loves to race. And they weren’t lying.”
With nothing decided, the synchronized salvo continued through a sensational backstretch battle, but as they ducked it out to the 3/4-pole in an eye-popping 1:26.1, Luckisontheway finally gained a nostril advantage over his worthy foe and began to quickly draw clear around the final turn.
To a rousing ovation, he strode confidently to the wire, 4-1/4 lengths the best, and timed in well-earned 1:56.
“Yeah, he’s a very tough horse, very … I just tried to rate my own mile being parked and everything,” Sowers continued. “But the horse poked his nose in front at the 3/4-pole and he knew what to do after that.”
Art Of Endurance (Andy Harrington) patiently rallied for second, and Medoland Brutus (Hunter Lofthus) provided a bit of price play for show, while Mallard, after his valiant battle, faded to last.
Luckisontheway, trained by Michelle Lefebvre for owner Ralph Silvestri, is a 6-year-old son of Luck Be Withyou and returned a generous $18.80 to win.
Racing continues under the lights at the Skowhegan State Fair with evening sessions scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 19-20) with post time set for 7 p.m. (EDT). The fairground meeting will conclude with afternoon cards on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 21-22) with post time set at 1 p.m.
The Skowhegan live video feed can be enjoyed online at www.youtube.com/@Mainefairharnessracing while wagering is available online on the Hollywood Races site at www.hollywoodraces.com.