September 16, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

FARMINGTON, ME – It’s still six weeks until Halloween, but when the 184th Farmington Fair opened on Monday (Sept. 15) fans were treated to a Real Horrorshow…Maine’s freshmen pacing sensation won his eighth consecutive stakes race.

In the first $17,124 division of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings driver Kevin Switzer Jr. sent his dad’s son of Dude’s The Man right to the top from post six.  From that point it was all over but the shouting as the young phenom made every call a winning one, setting early fractions of :30.4 and 1:01.3 to the half.

Perhaps Real Horrowshow was allowing his prey to stalk him in the early going, because once Switzer asked for a little more, he got a lot more.  Hitting the third panel in 1:31.3 and leaving the field in his dusty wake by ten open lengths, the divisional star cruised home an easy winner in 2:01.4.

Trained by Kevin Switzer Sr., and owned by KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., Real Horrowshow has never seen the back of a helmet.  Prevailing by a nine lengths, and increasing his bankroll to $57,044, he was bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum. 

Silence Of Darkness (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Deuces Red (Heath Campbell) was third in the non-wagering event.

In the second $16,948 division of the Maine Sire Stakes, which was held on the betting program at Farmington, it was the favorite Daytoremember who finally got a day to shine having drawn into a different division than that of his undefeated peer.

Wowzah Clousah (7-1, Mike Cushing) led the field away from the wings and through the first turn from post two, however driver Heath Campbell had no intention of getting a pocket trip and sent the son of Dude’s The Man out to take command by the time the field hit the :29.1 opening station.

Campbell relaxed his charge on the point and rolled comfortably into a softer 1:00.2 mid-way marker, with the rest of the field following along in straight alignment.  Just past the half driver Andy Harrington sent Rebel’s Revenge first over to challenge the pocket-sitting Wowzah Clousah as the pack rolled down the backstretch for the final time.

The pacesetter increased his tempo and hit the third stanza in 1:30.1, while the rest of the aggressors tried valiantly to maintain the pace.  However, it was all Daytoremember who drew off by 3-1/2 lengths to score in a lifetime best 2:00.

Owned, trained and bred by Valerie Grondin, the son of Dude’s The Man grabbed his second victory of the season, which compliments his ultra-consistent six second place finishes.  He paid $3.40 for the win and increased his bankroll to $37,086.

Wowzah Clousah finished second; Rebel’s Revenge was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at the Farmington Fair with the 3-year-old colt pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 16) and then all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Wednesday (Sept. 17).

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