Windsor, ME — The entire lot of Maine’s 2-year-old pacers toured the Windsor Fair facility on Friday (Sept. 4), with some of the familiar, unbeaten stars emerging as the next great Pine Tree State-bred harness horses.
Four divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes were held before the regular card at Windsor, with three divisions for the freshmen colts and geldings that were made up from the previous (Thursday) day’s rain cancellation. Originally programmed for Friday was an early race for the fillies, and then a $16,983 pari-mutuel 2-year-old filly pace that was held as the opener.
Right out of the gate and blasting to the lead was colt division points leader, The Gucci Man. Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was tested to the :29.2 opening panel from post six, but made the top and kept his colt rolling to a 1:01.1 half.
Hollywood Chester (Joey Mosher) sat a tight pocket with Two Bolts (Mike Cushing) and Survive The Ride (Aaron Hall) sparking up the outer flow into a 1:32 third panel.
However, as the field hit the head of the stretch The Gucci Man was already five lengths on top. Gaining ground with every stride he tripped the timer in 2:01, all by himself with 10-1/2 lengths on the rest of the field.
Owned, trained and bred by Marc Tardif, The Gucci Man posted a :29 final quarter in his sixth straight score and increased his lifetime earnings to $47,143.
Hollywood Chester hung on for second; Fiddlestix Revenge (Heath Campbell) was third.
Trainer Marc Tardif and the Tardif Taskforce swept the other two colt divisions with One Last Deal (Andy Harrington) in 2:00.3 who grabbed his first lifetime victory from four previous outings, and a new time badge to go with it.
The son of Dude’s The Man, who is also owned and was bred by Tardif, was parked the final half with Agent James Bond (Switzer Jr.) finishing second and pacesetter Rustysonlytreasure (Aaron Hall) hanging on for third. All three are trained by Tardif.
In the third and final colt event it was Justcallmebuddy who posted the swiftest win of the day and took a new 1:59.2 record in the process. Trained by Tardif for owners Leighton Property and Victoria Leighton, it was the second lifetime win for the son of Deuce Seelster. Bred in Maine by Kristina Hall, heJustcallmebuddy now has two in a row.
Top Notch Treasure (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Painter’s Treasure (Andy Harrington) was third.
Just like her male counterpart, No Small Wonder has never seen the back of a helmet in six starts this season, and this $16,983 Maine Sire Stakes outing was no exception. Sent right to the top by Kevin Switzer Jr., the daughter of State Treasurer made every call a winning one, tripping the timer in 2:01, and prevailing by two lengths.
Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr. for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., she was bred by Luke and Patricia Varnum and now has $48,757 earned. No Small Wonder returned $2.20 as the heavy 1-9 favorite.
Wine For The Lady (Aaron Hall) finished second; Bettor’s Treasure (McGwire Sowers) was third.
The other $16,808 division for 2-year-old pacing fillies was captured by Feel The Fury in 2:01.3.
Driven by Aaron Hall to her first lifetime victory in wire-to-wire style, she is trained by Tardif for owner-breeder Lesley Leighton.
Bad Bunny T (Switzer Jr.) finished second; Calling All Angels (Stevenson) was third.
Looking ahead, the Maine Sire Stakes action resumes with the Glamour Boys (3-year-old male pacers) at Windsor Fair on Sunday (Sept. 6), followed by the 3-year-old filly pacers who close out the meet on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 7).
Maine’s freshmen compete in two more legs at Bangor and Farmington and then complete their seasons in the rich finals at Cumberland on Saturday, Oct. 3.
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or visit MaineSireStakes.com.