August 4, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Marc and Peggy Tardif’s Maine-bred colt Cheatin Fate refuted his dire diagnosis, brushed off the grim reaper, and went on to win his first Maine Sire Stakes on Saturday (Aug. 3) at Cumberland Raceway.

While many of the sport’s harness racing fans were anxiously anticipating the start of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, Cheatin Fate quietly went about his business and took home his first pari-mutuel victory.  Proving to his naysayers that this colt had much more life in him than some gave him credit for, the son of Thirty Two Red was more or less cast aside by an academic veterinarian when he was afflicted with a bad case of colic.

Raised in Bell, Florida at the Tardif’s farm on the quiet, sandy back roads of Gilcrest Training Center, the colt was in the early stages of breaking and training when he got sick in November of last year.

“Our local vet came to the barn and suggested we take him to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital in Gainesville,” Marc Tardif recalled.  “So we loaded him up and dropped him off around 1 am the next morning.”

A day later the hospital called and said that the horse had improved dramatically and was ready to come home and could be treated off site.

“Two hours later they called back and said he had taken a turn for the worse,” Tardif continued.  “They said we had to either approve emergency surgery, or euthanize, immediately.”

Neither Marc nor Peggy Tardif agreed with that diagnosis and went back to the hospital and picked up the colt.

“He was never experiencing extreme pain, it simply looked like an average case of colic,” noted Peggy Tardif.  “We just didn’t understand why they would recommend such a dramatic course of action.  So we decided to just bring him home and work on him with our local vet.”

Following some fluids and medicinal treatment while back in Bell (FL), the horse returned to normal in a few days, and has been fine ever since.  Half a year later the colt made his first start in a Learn and Earn baby race at Cumberland. 

During July he made two starts in the Maine Sire Stakes with a second and fourth place finish.  On Hambletonian Day Cheatin Fate lived up to his name and won his $16,161 division for freshmen pacing colts in 2:02.4.

Leaving from pylon position Cheatin Fate got away third and then had to be checked by regular driver Andy Harrington when stable mate Just Aftermidnight (9-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) made a break right in front of him while heading to the quarter pole in 30.1.

While Cheatin Fate was regaining his ground in the two-hole, I’m Not Maverick (13-1, John Beckwith) arrived first over into a 1:02.2 softer half.  Following that live cover was the headstrong Jax Attack (6-5, Walter Case Jr.) who had since recovered from his earlier rambunctiousness.

With the outer flow fading into that faster 1:32 third panel, Cheatin Fate was poised to pounce in the pocket behind the pacesetting This Dudes Perfect (11-1, Heath Campbell).  Around the final turn Harrington tipped his charge and rolled off the turn and started to bear down on the leader.  Gaining ground with every stride the once discounted equine prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths.

Owned and trained by Marc Tardif, it was the colt’s first lifetime victory and fastest mile here-to-date.  He was bred in Maine by Kristina and Gary Hall and paid $5.00 to win.

This Dudes Perfect finished second; Jax Attack was third.

In the second $16,161 division it was a Tardif Trifecta as the 1-9 favorite Massive Speed utilized a perfect pocket trip to grab his fourth career victory in a new lifetime best 2:00.3.  Undefeated thus far this season, the son of Dude’s The Man is trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property.  He paid $2.20 to win and was bred by Laurie Harding.

Tardif stable mates completed the trifecta ticket with Dawn Two Dark (Harrington) and Ella V Dude (Switzer) caught in an official dead heat photo for second.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Topsham with a one day push due to rain on Sunday.  The 3-year-old filly pacers were originally scheduled for Monday (Aug. 5) and the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers slated for Tuesday (Aug. 6).  Those divisions are reportedly set to race on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

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