October 9, 2025, by Chris Tully for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

BANGOR, ME – Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway at historic Bass Park will once again host the $400,000-plus Maine Sire Stakes Finals with four 3-year-old Pine Tree State-bred events on Saturday (Oct. 11) in Bangor, Maine. 

Once again, trainer Marc Tardif sends a star with an unblemished record into the $101,174 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Massive Speed has maintained a perfect record in the state of Maine, and the son of Dude’s The Man has been pegged as the 3-2 early morning line favorite in race two.  Regular pilot Aaron Hall gets the driving duties on the winner of 11 races and $81,701 this season. 

Likely to be the heavy favorite by post time, Massive Speed scores from post three, where he is surrounded by three other Tardif trainees: Cheatin Fate (P2, 7-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.), Dawn Two Dark (P5, 9-2, Andy Harrington) and No Guts No Glory (P7, 12-1, Mike Stevenson).

Race five pits this year’s top male trotter, Liberty’s Wildcard, against last year’s freshmen champion Whatawonder.

Tardif sends Liberty’s Wildcard into the $100,876 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, with the winner of 11 of 12 races listed as the 4-5 early morning line favorite.  A seasonal earner of $81,625, he will be driven by Kevin Switzer Jr.  The son of Noble Venture will score from post two and sports a winning streak of five in a row.

Whatawonder has been chasing the aforementioned favorite all year, and has finished second in his last four outings for driver Ken Watson and trainer Lisa Watson.  The son of Whataworkout was a perfect 10-for-10 last year, and is listed as 3-1 from post seven.

Race seven continues with the diagonal set, bringing divisional leader Barbella to face six other rivals in the $101,122 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.  The daughter of Whataworkout has won 10 of 14 this year with earnings exceeding $82,000.  She scores from post three with driver Kevin Switzer Jr. up for trainer Ken Anderson and is the 4-5 favorite.

Ivan Davies’ Little Shot (post 2) is the second choice at 4-1 and has been keeping up with the divisional standout throughout the season.

The $101,153 Maine Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing fillies is the concluding event for Pine Tree State-bred Standardbreds, led by 9-5 favorite Leanne Marie.

Trained and co-owned by Charlene ‘Sherry’ Cushing and driven by Mike Cushing, the daughter of Artistic Fella has been nothing short of sensational in the waning months of the series.  With five wins in her last six starts the winner of $74,314 this year has post two and will likely utilize her snappy gate speed to control the tempo.

The Graffam’s Chasing Dudes (P5, 2-1) will surely give the favorite a run for her money as she has six wins of her own this year, to go with $62,531 earned.

The Maine Sire Stakes finals represent the culmination of years of hard work and dedication of behalf of dozens of industry stakeholders, including, but not limited to the owners, breeders, trainers, drivers and caretakers of these equine athletes.

Not only do these horses represent a significant individual and collective investment in harness racing and agriculture in the state of Maine, but the peripheral revenue generated by the truck and trailer sales and maintenance, fuel suppliers, feed companies, hay producers, tack shops, blacksmiths, farm owners, and racetracks that give them a place to compete, generously exceeds seven figures annually.

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

October 4, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

FRYEBURG, ME – The Maine Sire Stakes wrapped up its divisional tour with the 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 3) at the famous Fryeburg Fair, with a $17,000-plus division for each gender. 

In the first $17,476 division, Whatawonder (Ken Watson) brushed away from the car early to take command into a :31.4 opening panel.  2/5 favorite Liberty’s Wildcard (Kevin Switzer Jr.) tracked along in the pocket through the 1:02.4 mid-way point.

Heading to the third panel in 1:32.1 Switzer tipped the son of Noble Venture and challenged the pacesetter for the top.  By the head of the stretch Liberty’s Wildcard was on top and drawing off, tripping the timer in 2:01.3 by a comfortable three length margin.

Trained by Marc Tardif for owner Leighton Property, it was his fifth straight victory and he returned $2.80.  He was bred by Jerry Stratton Jr.

Whatawonder finished second; Enchanted Prince (Andy Harrington) was third.

In the second $17,722 division the class standout Barbella came from off the pace to capture her seventh consecutive score in the Maine Sire Stakes, winning by three lengths in 2:03.

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Ken Anderson and owner Bob Zakian, the daughter of Whataworkout was bred by the late Mike Andrew.  She paid $2.80.

Little Shot (Ivan Davies) finished second; Twisted Fate (Mike Cushing) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes season concludes with the $340,000-plus Sophomore Finals on Saturday (Oct. 11) at Bangor Raceway.

For more information, including the final point standings for the upcoming finals, go to our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the website:  https://www.mainesirestakes.com

October 3, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

FRYEBURG, ME – The Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward on Thursday (Oct. 2) at the famous Fryeburg Fair, with two divisions of the glamour boys wowing fans in a preview of next week’s sophomore finals.

In the first $16,987 division, which was held before the regular card, This Dude’s Perfect (Heath Campbell) held sway over the field at the start and led the pack through evenly rated splits of :29.3 and 1:00.1 to the half.

Dawn Two Dark (Andy Harrington) was not content with the pocket so he pulled while headed to the 1:29.1 third panel and was on top by half a length at the head of the stretch.  Stalking and watching the action from off the pace was Ridgecrest Dan and John Nason who swooped both former leaders to prevail under the shadow of the wire by three parts of a length in 1:58.4.

Also trained by John Nason, the son of Dude’s The Man is owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps and picked up his fourth win of the season.  He was bred in Maine by Jason Vafiades and improved his seasonal bankroll to $51,078.

Dawn Two Dark finished second; I’m Not Maverick got up for third.

In the second $17,212 division it was another come from behind effort by Gracies Tough Guy, who caught the pacesetter Cheatin Fate (Andy Harrington) by a nose at the wire in 1:59.

Driven by Dave Ingraham for trainer Fred Ward Jr. and owner Sharon Ward, the homebred son of Western Maverick is a full brother to former Maine filly pacing star Gowestyounggrace.

Returning $7.60, it was the first seasonal win for Gracies Tough Guy.

Race Me Celtic (Bill Childs) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Fryeburg with more agricultural fair racing with both divisions of 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 3).  The $340,000-plus Sophomore Finals of the Maine Sire Stakes take place on Saturday (Oct. 11) at Bangor Raceway.

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

October 2, 2025, by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

FRYEBURG, ME – When the famous Fryeburg Fair welcomed the Maine Sire Stakes on Wednesday (Oct. 1) it was the star sophomore pacing filly Leanne Marie that held sway over the full field of Pine Tree State-bred sidestepping distaffs.

In the lone $17,853 division fans watched the Cushing clan’s determined 3-year-old female divisional leader Leanne Marie (4/5, Mike Cushing) take no prisoners and come away with the well-rated victory.

When the wings folded Whisper Of Luck (5-1, Andy Harrington) blasted out to the lead from post six, while Leanne Marie ducked in the pocket from post five.  Following a thirty second opening panel, Cushing wasted little time coming right back out to take command and led the field through a 1:00.3 mid-way marker.

With Whisper Of Luck in a tight pocket, and Leanne Marie in command, the pack hit the third station in 1:30.3.  With no significant pressure, Cushing let out a notch to snag the score in 2:00, posting a :29.2 final quarter.

Trained by Charlene Cushing who also bred with co-owners with Pamela Smith and Jane DiPompo, the daughter of Artistic Fella grabbed her eighth win of the season and fourth in a row.

Leanne Marie paid $3.60 and now has $74,314 earned this season, while going over $122,000 in lifetime earnings.

Whisper Of Luck finished second; Glorilla (Aaron Hall) was third.

The Maine Sire Stakes continues at Fryeburg with more agricultural fair racing, with the 3-year-old colt pacers on Thursday (Oct. 2), followed by both divisions of 3-year-old trotters on Friday (Oct. 3).  The $340,000-plus Sophomore Finals of the Maine Sire Stakes take place on Saturday (Oct. 11) at Bangor Raceway.

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