Undefeated Maine Sire Stakes star Massive Speed grabbed another victory in a $23,886 division for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at the Skowhegan State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 14, while also earning a new speed badge in the process.

In the early, non-wagering split, Maine’s winningest pacer took matters into his own hands and jetted to the lead in a snappy :29.2 quarter. From that point, the regional star’s regular driver Aaron Hall had Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) close behind with Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham) racing third through the :59.1 midway marker.

Andy Harrington tipped Cheatin Fate first-over as the field reached the third station in 1:29 and attempted to test his pacesetting  stablemate around the final turn. That challenge turned out to be short-lived as Massive Speed switched into high gear and scampered home in :28.3 to score in a new lifetime best 1:57.3. 

Bred in Maine by Laurie Harding, the son of Dudes The Man-Machmeter scored by 2-3/4 lengths for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine. It was Massive Speed’s seventh consecutive victory in his perfect sophomore season.

Cheatin Fate finished second and Keenan Star held on for third.

Tardif completed a sweep of the glamour boy divisions with Dawn Two Dark winning the second split, which was held on the regular program.

Driver Andy Harrington placed Dawn Two Dark on the front end and never looked back. The three-year-old son of Deuce Seelster-Light Of Day was very much in command through the entire mile, posting opening fractions of :30.1 and 1:01, with This Dudes Perfect (Heath Campbell) sitting in the two-hole.

A three-horse outer flow developed while the field headed into the 1:30.2 third quarter with 2-1 favourite Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason) first-over, followed by No Guts No Glory (Aaron Hall) second-up.

Despite the would-be spoilers, it was all Dawn Two Dark, who put out the lights on the rest of his pursuers and prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59. Ridgecrest Dan finished second and This Dudes Perfect was third.

Dawn Two Dark, also owned by Tardif, earned his second seasonal victory in seven starts, returning $9.60 to win. 

Dawn Two Dark was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.

The Maine Sire Stakes winds down at Skowhegan with the two-year-old filly pacers on Saturday, Aug. 16.

(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)