Streaking sophomore pacer Massive Speed added another notch to his belt on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Bangor Raceway, showing his heels to the field in Maine Sire Stakes action.
A pair of $23,578 Maine Sire Stakes divisions for three-year-old male pacers were presented as non-betting races before the regular card.
Massive Speed's reinsman Aaron Hall sent him to the front in the first foray and never looked back. The Dudes The Man-Machmeter gelding set fractions of :28.3 and :58.3 to the half, with stablemate Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) stuck close to his helmet and Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham) the first horse to enter the outer flow. As the field passed the third station in 1:28, Ingraham had Gracies Tough Guy in lock step with the precocious pacesetter; however, the divisional dynamo had other ideas and stepped into another gear and pulled away from his stalkers. Prevailing by 2-1/2 lengths, Massive Speed shaved a tick off his lifetime mark as tripped the timer in 1:57. Dawn Two Dark finished second and Gracies Tough Guy was third.
Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, Massive Speed earned his ninth victory in as many starts this year and 19th lifetime win. He's earned $85,309 of his $268,398 bankroll in his undefeated sophomore season. Massive Speed was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.
In the second division, John Nason sent Ridgecrest Dan out to an early lead from his pylon starting position, but was initially thwarted by Heath Campbell and This Dudes Perfect, who was the swiftest off the car. Once in command past the :29.3 opening panel, Ridgecrest Dan enjoyed a two-length advantage at the 1:01 midway point. Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) applied pressure first-over and was at the pacesetter’s throat latch as the field rolled past the third stanza in 1:30 flat. Down the stretch, This Dudes Perfect found a swifter speed and passed the pacesetter to prevail in 1:59.2, a maiden-breaking effort. Ridgecrest Dan edged out Cheatin Fate for the runner-up honours.
Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner/breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe and co-owner Brenda Varney, This Dudes Perfect found the winner’s circle after 14 lifetime outings. The Dudes The Man-Pembroke Perfect colt now has $42,337 banked lifetime.
Maine Sire Stakes continue at Bangor with the freshman pacing fillies on Saturday, Sept. 6 and all two and three-year-old trotters on Sunday, Sept. 7.
(With files from Maine Sire Stakes)