September 17, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)
FARMINGTON, ME – Massive Speed, the Maine-bred unbeaten sophomore pacer, added another notch to his belt at the Farmington Fair on Tuesday (Sept. 16) in one of the two $17,000-plus divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes.
In the first $17,212 non-wagering division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings driver Aaron Hall put his star sidestepper right out on the front end where they set comfortable fractions of :30.1, :59.4 to the opening half.
Following a miscue at the start Mike Stevenson continued to rally on the outside with Gordon Corey’s I’m Not Maverick as Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) sat in the pocket while the field approached the 1:29.3 third panel.
With no real challengers in sight, and a few taps on the saddle pad to keep his attention, Aaron Hall rolled Massive Speed down the lane with authority to score by four lengths in 1:58.
Trained by Marc Tardif and owned by Leighton Property, it was Massive Speed’s tenth consecutive victory and 20th lifetime win. His seasonal total now reads $70,845, with his lifetime earnings now at $205,375. He was bred in Maine by Laurie Harding.
Cheatin Fate finished second; This Dudes Perfect (Heath Campbell) was third.
In the second $17,212 division Andy Harrington went from gate to wire with Dawn Two Dark, holding off a late-closing Gracies Tough Guy (5-1, Dave Ingraham) to prevail by a half-length in 1:58.1.
Trainer Marc Tardif swept both divisions of the sophomore pacers, and also owns Dawn Two Dark who was bred in Maine by Gary and Kristina Hall. Winning for the fourth time this season, he paid $4.40 and upped his seasonal total to $45,978.
Ridgecrest Dan (2-1 John Nason) finished third.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Farmington Fair with all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Wednesday (Sept. 17) and concludes with the 2-year-old filly pacers on ‘Jug Day’ Thursday (Sept. 18).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
