The three-year-old colt and gelding pacers kicked off the Maine Sire Stakes at Windsor Fair on Sunday, Aug. 25 with a pair of $26,000-plus divisions where an unbeaten sophomore and a maiden both grabbed victories.
The $26,609 opening division was presented as an early non-wagering event, with Two Fold Cold, undefeated in his sophomore season, letting nobody stand in the way of his win streak.
Scoring from post six, driver Kevin Switzer Jr. sent the Marc Tardif-trained son of Deuce Seelster right to the top in a moderate :30.1 opening panel. From that point, it was smooth sailing for the unchallenged star as he paced through fractions of 1:01.4 and 1:31.3 before charging home in :27.4 to stop the Windsor Fair timer at 1:59.2, prevailing by two lengths. Hesjustadelight (Ron Cushing) finished second and the winner's stablemate, Wess Challenge (Walter Case Jr.), was third.
The win was the seventh in a row and 11th lifetime from 16 starts for the Gary and Kristina Hall, Maine-bred powerhouse. His lifetime earnings now total $117,470 for owner/trainer Tardif.
In the second $26,914 division on the regular card, Michelle Hardin’s Whats For Suppaah broke his maiden following a hard-fought, front-end journey in his 17th lifetime start.
Driven throughout the majority of his career by Aaron Hall, Whats For Suppaah had been a bridesmaid in five earlier outings, but on Sunday, the son of Deuce Seelster had every intention of being the first one seated at the dinner table.
When the wings folded, Hall sent his charge out to the front from post six, which is not the gelding’s usual tactic. Nonetheless, the 4-1 third choice Whats For Suppaah fought hard to reach the point in a taxing :28.3 opening panel. Following a brief respite into a :59.1 half, the upset-minded pacesetter had 6-5 favourite Arts Flight (Andy Harrington) tight on his driver’s helmet and 9-5 Justcallmebuck (Heath Campbell) first-up and looking for a tussle.
Past the third stanza in 1:28.3, Whats For Suppaah maintained his length advantage over the challengers. Around the final turn, Justcallmebuck had reached the leader’s saddlepad, but when the field turned for home, the favourite Arts Flight had no place to go as Hall let out a notch and they grabbed the horse’s first lifetime win in 1:58.1 by a measured length and a quarter. Arts Flight finished second and Justcallmebuck was third.
Owned and trained by Hardin, Whats For Suppaah paid $10.80 to win. He was bred by Christine Holt.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Windsor Fair with the three-year-old filly pacers on Monday, Aug. 26, which is followed by the two-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)