Skowhegan, ME — Kevin Switzer Jr. continued his assault on Maine’s fairground circuit on Sunday (Aug. 13) as the lightning hot teamster wrangled three more wins during the opening day of the Skowhegan State Fair.

Plus One provided the first of three wins for driver Kevin Switzer Jr. on Sunday at Skowhegan. Stephanie Gray photo.

Switzer began his barrage in flashy gate-to-wire fashion behind the veteran pacer Plus One (1:56.2-$5.40), gaining the 25th win of the career for the son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Robert Marston. The win was one of two on the card for the Marston roster which earlier lit up the toteboard in the first race of the meet when Bet On Joe (1:57) and driver Nick Graffam rewarded their backers with a $38 win ticket return.

The Switzer swagger was on full display in the afternoon’s $6,000 featured event as Hespoisedtopounce A (1:55.1-$11.20) deftly escaped the potential traffic of the second tier before mounting a bold first over gambit through a torrid :57.3 back-half to score the three-quarter-length margin.

Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for owners Timothy Bojarski and Anthony Gruppo, the well-healed son of Bettor’s Delight claimed the lion’s share for the 25th time in his career while posting the fastest win time of the young Skowhegan meeting.

Switzer completed his hat trick when the field for the finale was quickly hustled in behind the starting gate as a fast moving thunderstorm approached the historic fairgrounds. Dashingly steering the 20-1 longshot PC’s Expresso (1:59.4-$42.00) from near-last to first through a daring three-wide maneuver, Switzer measured the wire while posting the three-quarter-length score.

The win was the 152nd victorious drive of the season for the 36-year-old teamster.

Harness racing resumes at the Skowhegan Fair on Monday (Aug. 14) at 1 p.m. (EDT). The weeklong meet then heads under the lights on Tuesday and Thursday (Aug. 15 and 17) with post time slated at 7 p.m. and will conclude with 1 p.m. cards on Friday and Saturday (Aug. 18 and 19). Saturday’s card will feature the Hight Memorial Invitational which annually attracts the finest horses in New England.