September 12, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Holli Niles photos)
BANGOR, ME – A pair of $19,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings toured the historic Bass Park oval at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (September 11) with the unbeaten Massive Speed remaining at the top of his class.
At the start, Walter Case Jr. driving the 1-9 favorite Massive Speed let 5-1 second choice Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) assume the point. That leader’s position was short-lived, however, as Case was right out and re-taking command before the snappy 28.4 first quarter.
Just past the softer 59.3 half and into the third turn Dave Ingraham pulled Gracies Tough Guy first over and challenged for the lead while the field hit the third panel in 1:29.1.
Round the turn Ingraham continued to apply pressure with the 13-1 longshot Gracies Tough Guy and was within a length of the unblemished leader. Through the stretch Case asked his seasonally perfect colt for more, to which he responded with a 29 second final quarter. Prevailing by a measured length for the $19,662 purse, they stopped the timer in 1:58.1, which was just a tick off the seasonal mark the son of Dude’s The Man set in his triumph last week.
Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, it was the talented colt’s eighth consecutive win, which has extended his unbeaten streak. Massive Spped was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding and paid just $2.20 to win and increased his career bankroll to $61,827.
Keenan Star finished third.
In the second $19,661 division, William Child’s Race Me Celtic strolled to an easy wire-to-wire victory in 1:58.4, which broke his maiden and provided the gelding with a new time badge.
Driven by Drew Campbell, the son of Western Maverick maintained a healthy advantage over the various comers and goers of the race, but drew off down the stretch to score by 6-1/4 lengths.
Owned, bred and trained by William Childs, the Race Me Celtic paid $4.00 to win and now has $19,688 earned in just five lifetime starts.
Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) finished second; Cheatin Fate (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes transitions over to the Farmington Fair for harness racing Monday (Sept. 16) through Friday (Sept. 20) with the all of the remaining divisions of 2- and 3-year-old Maine-bred events.
Looking ahead, four divisions of the Freshmen Finals will be held at the Cumberland Fair 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
