Massive Speed motors to ninth straight win

September 20, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)

FARMINGTON, ME – Massive Speed got his ninth career victory at the Farmington Fair on Thursday (September 19) in the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers, which was also his ninth consecutive score. 

The unblemished record of Marc Tardif’s Massive Speed added another notch to his belt on Jug Day.  The Dude’s The Man colt made every call a winning one as driver Walter Case Jr. rolled right to the top and never looked back.  The top colt in his division won his non-wagering event by a length and quarter in 2:00.1, with a final quarter in 28.1.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, Massive Spped was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding and increased his career bankroll to $71,658.

Gracies Tough Guy (David Ingraham) finished second; Cheatin Fate (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

In the other division Valerie Grondin’s homebred Keenan Star grabbed his second lifetime victory in just his fifth seasonal outing.  Driven by Heath Campbell, the son of Western Maverick looped the Farmington oval and left all would-be challengers in his wake.  Winning in 2:01 by a measured length, he is also owned and was bred by Valerie Grondin.

Jax Attack (Aaron Hall) finished second; Race Me Celtic (Bill Childs) was third.

The pair of non-wagering events of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings carried $19,000-plus purses.

The Maine Sire Stakes concludes at the Farmington Fair with harness racing Friday (Sept. 20) carrying all divisions of the Maine-bred trotters. 

The next stop will be the Cumberland Fair with Sire Stakes racing starting on Wednesday (Sept. 25) and culminating with the Freshmen Finals on Saturday (Sept. 28).

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