The Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were postponed a day due to heavy rain, but that didn’t slow down the "Tardif Taskforce" from sweeping both divisions on Sunday, June 29 at Bangor Raceway.
Originally slated for First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday, June 28, the Pine Tree State-bred glamour boys were still primed and ready to roll a day later at historic Bass Park, with the two divisions being held before the regular noon-time pari-mutuel program.
In the first $16,660 division, Massive Speed, last season’s two-year-old pacing star, continued his winning ways for trainer Marc Tardif and catch-driver Bruce Ranger.
When the wings folded, Ranger, sitting in for regular driver Walter Case Jr., let the talented son of Dudes The Man and Machmeter roll right to the top, where he proceeded to make every call a winning one. Passing the first panel in :29.2, he was on top by two lengths and he continued through the 1:00.1 half. By the third station in 1:29.3, Race Me Celtic (Drew Campbell) had launched a first-over challenge. That test turned out to be short-lived as Massive Speed switched into high gear and pulled away from his would-be spoilers to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:58, and equalling his lifetime best. Race Me Celtic finished second while Cheatin Fate (Kevin Switzer Jr.), one of the winner's three stablemates in the field, was third.
Bred by Laurie Harding, Massive Speed is now two-for-two this season and 12-for-15 lifetime, sitting on the verge of the $200,000 earnings mark for owner Leighton Property of Waterboro, Maine.
In the second $16,968 division for Maine’s three-year-old male pacers, the would-be favourite Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason) got some of that good ‘Queen City’ air while Kevin Switzer Jr. sent Dawn Two Dark to the front and never looked back.
Scoring from post two, Dawn Two Dark grabbed the lead quickly with Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) protecting his pylon position in the pocket. This left the 8-5 morning line favourite, Ridgecrest Dan, hung out to dry and looking to take the overland route to victory. Since these races were off the card, there was no wagering; however, being listed as the second pick on the morning line didn’t stop Dawn Two Dark from racing like he was the public’s choice. With Switzer Jr. controlling the tempo and passing the panels in :29, :58.2 and 1:28, not much changed other than the stamina of Ridgecrest Dan, who stayed game through the stretch. Down the lane, This Dudes Perfect (Drew Campbell) surged from fourth to try and track down the leaders, but came up short by 1-1/2 lengths to Dawn Two Dark, who prevailed in a new lifetime best of 1:58. Keenan Star finished third and Ridgecrest Dan hung on to be fourth.
Tardif also owns the Deuce Seelster-Light Of Day gelding, who was bred by Gary Hall and Kristina Hall. Dawn Two Dark followed up a close Sire Stakes runner-up finish behind Massive Speed in his season's debut with his second career win from 10 outings, pushing his bankroll over $50,000.
Looking ahead, Wednesday’s Bangor program hosts the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes; photo of Dawn Two Dark winning on June 29)