September 3, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Stephanie Gray photo)

WINDSOR, ME – Team Tardif’s Two Fold Cold has provided his owner-trainer with an emotional rollercoaster this season.  Winning the fastest $14,487 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts on Saturday (Sept. 2) at Windsor is only part of the story.

The son of Deuce Seelster is trained and owned by Marc Tardif, and together with his wife Peggy Tardif, they comprise one of the most heavily armed forces in the Maine Standardbred Breeders program.  With a horse or three in just about every division the Tardif’s work hard at racing horses, and supporting Maine Standardbreds.

It’s no surprise that with several dozen horses in the barn that one may become a ‘project horse.’  With a habit of breaking stride, the raucous freshman has good speed but a tendency to do things his own way.

But, despite ‘running’ at, or near, the start in two of his last three outings, the gelding still has managed to win decisively on each occasion.  Saturday was another ‘case in point’ with the uncertainty surrounding Two Fold Cold’s behavior. 

With an inconsistent and hair-pulling early bobble, he got back pacing right away, settling into third position while back seven lengths.  Coming first over after the half, he had caught the field and was poised for the top at the third panel.

By the head of the stretch Two Fold Cold had taken command, and then drew off to give himself a new lifetime mark of 1:59.4, winning by 3-3/4 lengths for regular handler Kevin Switzer Jr.

Bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, Two Fold Cold now has three wins in seven lifetime starts, with earnings of $23,233.  Hesjustadelight (Ron Cushing-Heidi Gibbs) finished second; Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.-Tardif) was third.

Team Tardif swept the 2-year-old pacing colts division with their own Thru The Fire, who also picked up a new lifetime mark.

Andy Harrinton drove the son of Western Maverick to a wire-to-wire victory in a career best 2:02.4.  Owned by Leighton Property and bred by Marc Tardif, it was Thru The Fire’s second career win, but first Maine Sire Stakes triumph.

Justcallmebuck (Gary Hall) finished second; Stretch It Donn (Case Jr.-Tardif) was third.

Racing continues at Windsor when the Maine-bred trotters race on Sunday (Sept. 3) with the sophomore filly pacers closing out the meet on Labor Day Monday (Sept. 4).

For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com