Following in the footsteps of the 10-for-10 sophomore filly Snowonthepines, the undefeated three-year-old pacing gelding Real Horrorshow makes his seasonal bow in one of two splits of the Maine Sire Stakes for his division on Wednesday, June 17 at Bangor Raceway.
Real Horrorshow, last year’s undisputed Maine two-year-old pacing colt champion, steps into his first seasonal stakes competition off a blistering 1:54.4 qualifier at Plainridge Park for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr. The son of Dudes The Man-Pretty Eyes won all nine of his races at two, including the lucrative $119,371 Maine Sire Stakes final.
Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gets the call to steer the 3-5 morning-line favourite from pylon position, putting the precocious gelding in prime position to reach his favoured spot on the front.
Real Horrorshow earned $136,968 in 2025 for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr. while racing solely in the Pine Tree State-bred program. Bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum, this horse looked like the real thing when he won the freshmen final by 4-1/2 lengths.
The powerful ‘Tardif Taskforce’ has three entrants in the same division as the unblemished favourite. Trainer Marc Tardif will send out the 9-5 second choice Rebels Revenge (Aaron Hall) from post four, along with Dudes The Jet (Walter Case Jr., 6-1) from post three and Silence Ofdarkness (Hunter Lothfus, 10-1) from post six. The second split is carded as Race 7 and carries a purse of $15,434 USD.
In the earlier $15,609 USD division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings (Race 2), the 8-5 morning-line favourite is Daytoremember with Heath Campbell aboard from post five. Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin, the son of Dudes The Man-Paxxie hit the board nine times in 11 seasonal outings at two. From the pegs is second choice Itsjustmoney (Switzer Jr., 7-2), who is one of three in that division that hail from the Tardif stable. The other two from the Taskforce are Nuh Uh (PP6, Andrew Harrington, 9-1) and Ghost Of Winter (PP7, Aaron Hall, 9-2).
First post at Bangor on Wednesday is 3 p.m.
This ‘glamour boys’ leg is the first Maine Sire Stakes action for this division, which starts off the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase. Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland hosts the three-year-old trotters on Sunday, June 21, with the three-year-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Wednesday, June 24.
(Maine Sire Stakes)