Skowhegan, ME – Two of Maine’s top-rated harness drivers dominated the action on the quickening mid-state oval on Friday (Aug. 21), combining to win 7 out of the eleven races carded at the Skowhegan State Fair.
The Switzer swagger began with a gate-to-wire romp with No Small Wonder (1:59.4, NB), putting a new lifetime mark on the 2-year-old filly, while extending her undefeated record to a perfect five-for-five in a $16,808 split of Maine Sire Stake action.
Switzer continued on his grand slam surge as Suge (1:57.2, $3.80) powered through a contested :28.2 opening quarter while holding enough in reserve to charge home in a competition discouraging :28.4; while Devious Moon (2:02.4, $5) made his first state-of-Maine start a winning one, as the Saratoga invader posted even fractions as the competition failed to advance; before finally rolling down the highway with Rollin Doubles (1:58.4, $4.80), and putting a seasonal mark on the Robert MacNeil trainee.
Meanwhile, Hall began his haul by putting a new lifetime mark on Wine For The Lady (2:00, NB) in the afternoon’s second $16,983 Maine Sire Stake event; quickly followed by a convincing win with Jackson R Browne (1:55.1, $19.60) who rallied smartly into a :58 back-half off a legit :57.1 opening-half pace while scoring the fastest win thus far this meet at Skowhegan; and then concluding his triple with a gate-to-wire romp behind Dark Horse (1:56.2, $5), who successfully rose up in claiming class on Friday to secure his second win-in-a-row.
In other Skowhegan news, driver David Ingraham scored two wins of his own during the Friday afternoon card, coincidentally generating the lowest win price of the day with Go West Young Grace (1:58.3, $2.80), while living up to his reputation as “Double Digit Dave” in the 10th race finale, returning a hefty $44.80 as he brought home Age Is A Number (1:58.4) to her first win of the season.
The fairground meeting at Skowhegan will conclude with on Saturday (Aug. 22) with a pair of Maine Sire Stakes being conducted as non-wagering events at noon followed by a 12-race wagering card with post time set at 1 p.m.
Saturday’s (Aug. 22) card will feature the always anticipated renewal of the $12,000 Walter Hight Memorial Invitational, the second of the major invitationals to be held along the Pine Tree circuit.
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.