Fryeburg, ME – Driver Andy Harrington expertly worked the throttle of Massive Speed as they zoomed around the Fryeburg Fair oval on Friday (Oct. 9) en route to establishing a new divisional track record for 4-year-old gelding pacers. The dashing duo stopped the teletimer in a breathtaking 1:54.4 to eclipse the previous standard of 1:55, established in 2018 by Opus Blue Chip and driver Eddie Davis Jr.
Most big miles and benchmark events require a breather at some point during the mile and Massive Speed, uniquely, managed to grab not one, but two. Discouraging early competition after charging hard from the gate, Harrington was able to deftly throttle down his charge to an uncontested :29 quarter, and then remarkably, was able to maintain that exact same tempo to easily reach the half in a relatively pedestrian :58.
As Harrington passed the half and angled into the third turn, the plugs were dramatically pulled, and the chase was on toward what eventually would become a record-book ending.
Unaided by challengers, Massive Speed extended out to a 2-1/4 length lead while reaching three-quarters in 1:26.1 (:28.1), increasing his lead to a full three-lengths at the head of the stretch, at which point Harrington began urging his charge on to the ultimate goal.
Crossing the wire a willing 6-1/4 lengths the best, the infield timer proclaimed the 1:54.4 epic, as thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the overflow fans in the grandstands to herald their new champion.
Massive Speed, a Maine-bred son Dude’s The Man, was bred by Laurie Harding, is owned by Leighton Properties, and is trained by Benson Merrill. Friday’s win marked his 30th career trip down Victory Lane and increased his lifetime bankroll to $303,103.
Racing resumes on Saturday (Oct. 10) at Fryeburg with a nine-race wagering program set to commence at 1:30 p.m. (EDT). The weeklong meeting will conclude Sunday (Oct. 11) with an early noon post time.
For the complete schedule at the Fryeburg Fair, please visit www.fryeburgfair.org.
The live video feed of all the harness racing action at Fryeburg Fair can be enjoyed online at www.youtube.com/@Mainefairharnessracing , programs may be found at www.trackmaster.com , while wagering for the races at Fryeburg will be available on track, at Maine’s OTB network, and online on the Hollywood Races site at www.hollywoodraces.com.