September 18, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Judy Ellis photos)
FARMINGTON, ME – Maine-bred Standardbred racing helped open the historic Farmington Fair on Sunday (Sept. 17) with two $14,000-plus divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
The Farmington, Maine Agricultural Fair is now in full swing and harness racing is the center of attraction at the historic 182nd annual event. Situated in Franklin County (Maine), Farmington has a whopping 47 properties or districts listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
In the first $14,486 division Marc Tardif’s Two Fold Cold ran off and hid like his tail was on fire, which was an early non-wagering race, and thus the first race of the Fair meet.
Reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. was content to take a seat in third position when the wings folded, while stable mate Thru The Fire (Andy Harrington) assumed control of the tempo, and Whats For Suppaah (Aaron Hall-Michelle Hardin) grabbed the two-hole.
Not much changed at the :31.1 opening panel, but by the 1:02.2 half Switzer had Two Fold Cold out and rolling, with victory on his mind. At the 1:32.3 third stanza the son of Deuce Seelster was looking his stable mate pacesetter right in the eye, and then went right on by.
It was at that point that Switzer hit the afterburners and the gelding responded by putting eleven lengths between himself and the rest of the field, scoring in 2:02.3, using a :30 final quarter to gain the vast separation.
Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, Two Fold Cold picked up his fourth win in a row and was impressive in his ‘off the pace’ effort. The freshman was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall.
What For Suppaah finished second; Thru The Fire was third.
In the second $14,487 division Oakleypopsthedeuce inherited the win when Justcallmebuck (Gary Hall) was disqualified and placed fifth for a pylon infraction.
While driver Dave Ingraham had controlled the tempo with Oakleypopsthedeuce through moderate fractions, he was nipped at the wire by a neck in 2:02.1 by the fast closing Justcallmebuck.
That unofficial result did not stand as Oakleypopsthedeuce was declared the winner by the judges for trainer Kelly Case and owner Tammy Sowers. The son of Deuce Seelster was bred by Irwin Kaplan.
Wes’s Challenge (Walter Case Jr.-Marc Tardif) was third placed second; Arts Flight (Switzer Jr.-Tardif) was fourth placed third.
The Maine Sire Stakes resumes at the Farmington Fair on Monday (Sept. 18) and continues through Wednesday (Sept. 20).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow their Facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
