Topsham, ME – The Pine Tree State’s sophomore pacing sensation, Massive Speed, eked out his sixth straight victory at the Topsham Fair on Thursday (Aug. 7) afternoon, with two of his colleagues trying valiantly to defeat him.
Coming into the race with a five-race unbeaten streak is nothing new for the Marc Tardif-trained son of Dude’s The Man. But having his foes get past his saddle pad is another paradigm entirely.
Last year Massive Speed uncorked an impressive 10-race streak that included victories in all of his freshman legs of the Maine Sire Stakes, plus the rich $76,000 final. This season has been a similar path for the divisional standout; however, the finish may have been a little too close for comfort.
In his early $11,812 non-wagering 3-year-old male pacing event, Massive Speed did what he usually does, go to the front. From that point, driver Aaron Hall set snappy fractions of :29.1, and :59 to the opening half, while maintaining a comfortable margin in front of the pocket-sitting Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason).
Hitting the third station in 1:28.4, it appeared that the pair was home free, but the challengers had other intentions. While Ridgecrest Dan tipped to the outside and had looked Massive Speed right in the eye at the head of the stretch, a threat from the inside in the form of stablemate Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) was at the gelding’s saddle pad.
Massive Speed held on gamely, standing his ground, and refusing to lose. The photo finish revealed that the divisional star had prevailed by a head over Ridgecrest Dan and by a neck over Dawn Two Dark in 1:59.1.
Trained by Tardif for owner Leighton Property, Massive Speed has now accrued $170,727 lifetime with 16 career victories. He was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.
In the other $11,812 division, which was held on the regular card, driver Hall, trainer Tardif, and owner Lesley Leighton swept the glamour boys division.
When the wings folded, driver Drew Campbell sent Race Me Celtic out to the front setting opening panels of :29.4 and 1:00. With No Guts No Glory (Hall) sitting a tight pocket to the half, Campbell tried to gain some separation by setting a swifter 1:29 third stanza.
However, No Guts No Glory showed that he possessed both the intestinal fortitude and the speed to overcome the pacesetter. He passed Race Me Celtic in the home stretch to prevail by a length in a lifetime-best 1:58.4.
Trained by Tardif for owner/breeder Leighton Property, the son of Deuce Seelster broke his maiden after 13 previous career attempts, paying $17.60 to win.
Ella V Dude (Jason Bertolini) finished third.
Looking ahead to the weekend at Topsham Fair, the 2-year-old filly pacers close out the series on Saturday (Aug. 9). Next week, the Maine Sire Stakes slides up to Skowhegan with the freshman pacing colts on Monday (Aug. 11) and sophomore filly pacers on Tuesday (Aug. 12).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com.