August 27, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

WINDSOR, ME – Undefeated sophomore pacing star Massive Speed unleashed another dominant tour de force when he took his $17,000-plus division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Tuesday (Aug. 26) at the Windsor Fair. 

Leaving from pylon position, nothing stood in the way of the impressive son of Dude’s The Man, except time and opportunity.  Regular pilot Aaron Hall took the pacer through opening fractions of :29.1 and 58.4 with Keenan Star (Heath Campbell) right on his helmet.

Past the half stable mate Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) was the first to start the outer flow, and by the 1:28.4 third panel had reached the pacesetter’s saddle pad.  From that point Massive Speed was given his head and the horse responded with a dramatic afterburner, showing his heels to the field.

Having unleashed a torrid :28.2 final quarter en route to a seven length romp, they tripped the timer in 1:57.1 in the non-betting event, which was a new lifetime best for the divisional standout.

Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, it was the gelding’s eighth consecutive victory and 18th lifetime win.  His seasonal total shot up to $53,633, with his lifetime earnings quickly approaching $200,000.  He was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.

Cheatin Fate finished second; Keenan Star was third.

The second $17,212 ‘Glamour Boys’ division was held on the wagering card as the opener, and witnessed the powerful Tardif Taskforce complete a sweep of the Pine Tree State-bred contests.

When the wings folded it was the 4/5 favorite Ridgecrest Dan and John Nason who took the early lead from post three.  From the :29 second opening panel through the :59.3 mid-way point Nason was in complete command.  However, Andy Harrington and Dawn Two Dark (5-1) pulled at the half and then made a sweeping move down the backstretch to overtake the pacesetter and assume the point into a 1:29.2 third stanza.

Around the turn and down the stretch Nason had tipped Ridgecrest Dan to re-engage with Dawn Two Dark and was putting their once comfortable lead in jeopardy.  Under the shadow of the wire Dawn Two Dark did prevail by a whisker in 1:59 over the fast closing Ridgecrest Dan.

Trained and owned by Marc Tardif, the son of Deuce Seelster paid $13.40 to win his third race of the season.  He was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall and now lays claim to $33,069 in seasonal earnings.

Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham) got up for third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Windsor Fair with all of the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Aug. 29) to kick off the holiday weekend.  The 2-year-old filly pacers arrive on the Saturday (Aug. 30) Windsor program, followed by the 3-year-old filly pacers on Sunday (Aug. 31) and finally the 2-year-old colt pacers to close out the long weekend on Monday (Sept. 1).

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