from harness publicists across North America

Saturday’s (March 31) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Scarborough Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Rosecroft Raceway and Cal Expo.

Michael Newman photo

Kevin Switzer, Jr. steers Wantsomeofthis in the opener at Scarborough Downs.

Young Switzer wasted little time ratcheting his performance into high gear as he claimed the first of his three victories in the opening event of the 2012 season, steering Wantsomeofthis to a gate-to-wire score, timed in 1:59.1. The 7-year-old son of Thatllbeme is owned by Stephen Morton of Windsor, Nova Scotia, and trained by Bo Sowers.

Switzer engineered his own version of basketball’s triple double by claiming victory in the first half of all three daily doubles at Scarborough on Saturday. His other victories came with the Michael Hitchcock trainees High Calibre N in the fifth and Western Comfort in the $6,000 Free For All. Western Comfort, the 6-year-old son of Western Hanover, recorded the fastest race time of the young meet at Scarborough, tripping the teletimer at 1:56.1.

The triple double in harness racing is a brand new concept, and although we’re quite certain that Celtics star Rajon Rondo does not feel threatened, Kevin Switzer, Jr. is more than capable of executing his own slam dunk on the track.

— Susan Higgins

Buffalo Raceway
Cole Hard Cash, a 6-year-old Cole Muffler gelding, out of the Life Sign mare Sacred, won the $10,000 Open Pace in a season’s best 1:55.4 for owner Limerick Racing at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night. It was the third win this season for Cole Hard Cash, who has been in the money in seven out of 11 races this year. Cole Hard Cash ($13.00), leaving from post three in the field of eight and driven by Dave McNeight III, settled in fifth as eventual third place finisher Golden Terror (Mark Beckwith) cut the fractions in the race, :28, :56.1 and 1:26.1. Cole Hard Cash made a three-wide move down the backstretch, and as the field hit the top of the stretch, took command of the race and beat second place finisher Spender Hanover (Jack Flanigen) by 3-3/4 lengths at the wire. Trained by Dave McNeight, Jr., the $5,000 share of the purse put Cole Hard Cash’s season’s bankroll at $16,472 and $154,762 lifetime.

Rosecroft
John Wagner recorded a hat trick at Rosecroft Saturday night, winning for the second time in a row with Denmar Stable of Fla’s Haley And Taylor for trainer Clyde Olgesby, Jr. Once again this one rallied when it counted and rolled by in the deep stretch. The final time of 1:56 shattered this one’s lifetime mark. Wagner then returned to the winner’s circle in the following race with Brian Wright and co-owner-trainer Ronald Short’s Gailie M. Gailie M broke her maiden in her seventh career start and won for fun after tossing out a :28.2 third quarter to give the field the slip. This one tripped the timer in 1:57.3. Wagner completed the triple with The Bronx Bumper, who he owns, trains and reined. This one got away slowly and despite Zorgwijk Lucifer’s (Donnie Russell) rated fractions, got underway on the backside and charged right on by in the shadow of the wire. The Bronx Bumper now owns a lifetime mark of 2:02.2. Veteran Billy Long also recorded a win on the Saturday night card, breaking Red Hook’s maiden in 2;01.2. Long let the field settle and then quarter-moved and was an easy winner for owner-trainer Arlene Cameron.

Cal Expo
A class rise to face the best horses on the grounds didn’t stop Albion from repeating. Winners Over pacers, racing for a purse of $4,500, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night over a sloppy track, in which Albion won for the 23rd time in his career. Owned by Dan Tullio and James Mascola in partnership with trainer Matias Ruiz, Albion (Luke Plano, $3.40) won by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:54. Marlin Hanover (Scott Cisco) finished in second and Amigo De Garcia (Steve Wiseman) finished a half-length father back in third. Plano recorded four victories on the 15-race program.