September 4, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Hollianne Niles photos)
BANGOR, ME – Undefeated sophomore pacing phenom Massive Speed added another notch to his belt on Wednesday (Sept. 3) at Bangor Raceway, showing his heels to the field in his $17,000-plus division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Presented before the regular card the $17,212 purse brought the son of Dude’s The Man back to the Queen City oval where his regular pilot Aaron Hall sent him to the front and never looked back.
Setting fractions of :28.3 and 58.3 to the opening panels, stable mate Dawn To Dark (Andy Harrington) stuck close to his helmet with Gracies Tough Guy (Dave Ingraham) the first horse to enter the outer flow.
As the field passed the third station in 1:28 Dave Ingraham had Gracies Tough Guy in lock step with the precocious pacesetter, however, the divisional dynamo had other ideas and stepped into another gear and pulled away from his stalkers.
Tripping the timer in 1:57, the effort shaved a tick off the gelding’s lifetime best, earning him a new time badge as he prevailed by 2-1/2 lengths.
Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, it was Massive Speed’s ninth consecutive victory and 19th lifetime win. His seasonal total now reads $62,239, with his lifetime earnings now at $196,769. He was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.
Dawn To Dark finished second; Gracies Tough Guy was third.
In the second $17,212 division John Nason sent Ridgecrest Dan out for an early lead from his pylon starting position, but was initially thwarted by Heath Campbell and This Dude’s Perfect who were the swiftest off the car.
Once in command past the :29.3 opening panel Ridgecrest Dan enjoyed a two length advantage at the 1:01 midway point. Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) applied pressure first over and was at the pacesetter’s throat latch as the field rolled past the third stanza in 1:30 flat.
Down the stretch This Dude’s Perfect found a swifter speed and passed the pacesetter to prevail in 1:59.2, a maiden-breaking effort.
Trained by Valerie Grondin for owner/breeder Lynn-Marie Plouffe who co-owns with Brenda Varney, the son of Dude’s The Man finally found the winner’s circle after 14 lifetime outings.
Ridgecrest Dan finished second; Cheatin Fate was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Bangor with the freshmen pacing fillies on Saturday (Sept. 6) and all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (Sept. 7).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
