A pair of $26,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings toured the historic Bass Park oval at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday, Sept. 11 with the unbeaten Massive Speed remaining at the top of his class.
At the start, Walter Case Jr., driving the 1-9 favourite Massive Speed, let 5-1 second choice Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) assume the point. That leader’s position was short-lived, however, as Case was right out and re-taking command before the snappy :28.4 first quarter.
Just past the softer :59.3 half and into the third turn, Dave Ingraham pulled Gracies Tough Guy first-over and challenged for the lead while the field hit the third panel in 1:29.1.
Rounding the turn, Ingraham continued to apply pressure with the 13-1 longshot Gracies Tough Guy and was within a length of the unblemished leader. Through the stretch, Case asked his seasonally perfect colt for more, to which he responded with a 29-second final quarter. Prevailing by a measured length for the lion's share of the $26,570 purse, they stopped the timer in 1:58.1, which was just a tick off the seasonal mark the son of Dudes The Man set in his triumph last week. Keenan Star finished third.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, Massive Speed has earned $84,301 with a perfect eight-for-eight record. Massive Sped was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.
He paid just $2.20 to win.
In the second $26,569 division, trainer William Childs' homebred Race Me Celtic strolled to an easy wire-to-wire victory in 1:58.4 to break his maiden in his fifth start.
Driven by Drew Campbell, the son of Western Maverick maintained a healthy advantage over the various comers and goers of the race, but drew off down the stretch to score by 6-1/4 lengths. Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) finished second and Cheatin Fate (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
Race Me Celtic paid $4 to win.
The Maine Sire Stakes transitions over to the Farmington Fair for harness racing on Monday, Sept. 16 through Friday, Sept. 20 with all of the remaining divisions of two and three-year-old Maine-bred events. Looking ahead, four divisions of the freshmen finals will be held at the Cumberland Fair on Saturday, Sept. 28.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)