Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed a “penta-terrific” day on Wednesday, Oct. 22 as the Maine’s most prolific teamster piled on five more victories during the twilight card at Bangor Raceway.
Switzer’s rampage began with an initial score behind Easteriffic ($4), launching a determined first-over salvo to secure the third seasonal win for the Ryan Berry trainee in 2:00.4, followed quickly by an insistent sprint to the wire behind Gotta Minute N ($19.20), who was running over the front-running Ibite Ask Doug (Aaron Hall) before escaping from the the pocket up the pylons to win in 1:58.4 for trainer Christopher Dubois.
Switzer’s mid-card exploits were impressive indeed as he brought home three consecutive well-meant entries starting with the Jamie Gerard-trained Foxy Trottin Stick ($3), who nailed his 34th career victory in first-over fashion in 2:01.3; then the Neal Grass trainee Lyons Shelby ($3.20), who generated a :58.1 back-half while prowling on the point for a 1:56.4 score; and concluding with the three-year-old Liams Ace ($5.60), who bested older, more experienced foes to register his fifth career win in 1:56.4 for conditioner Eric Bickmore.
Switzer’s five-win exposition increased his meet’s leading tally at Bangor Raceway to an imposing 66 driving victories, 21 more than Heath Campbell, his closest rival, who has accumulated 45 seasonal scores.
In other Bangor news, Campbell scored a driving triple on Wednesday’s program, including two wins from the the Valerie Grondin roster, while “Papa John” Nason secured a consecutive driving double with a pair of entries from his own, Freedom, New Hampshire-based stable.
(With files from Bangor Raceway; photo of Switzer from a previous card)