June 18, 2026 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)
BANGOR, ME – When the wings of the starting gate folded in one of two $15,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers on Wednesday (June 17) at Bangor Raceway, it looked like it was going to be another 1-9 shot going wire-to-wire. However, that scenario changed dramatically in deep stretch as 9-1 longshot Rebel’s Revenge handed the previously unbeaten Real Horrorshow his first lifetime defeat.
The betting public recognized that Real Horrorshow, last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing colt champion, was the top choice considering he was unbeaten as a freshman and was coming off a strong 1:54.4 qualifier at Plainridge for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr. Not only did the son of Dude’s The Man win all nine of his races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final, but he did so convincingly by winning most outings by open lengths.
When his regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. put the colt into motion—on the front end—it appeared that the duo would have everything their own way.
Switzer Jr. set reasonable opening fractions of :29 and 59.4 and continued to maintain a two-length advantage over the pocket sitting Rebel’s Revenge and Aaron Hall. Down the backside and into the 1:29.1 third panel Dave Ingraham had Dude’s The Jet (32-1) rolling first over and for a brief spell was right alongside Rebel’s Revenge.
Around the final turn Dude’s The Jet stalled, which allowed Rebel’s Revenge to find room to ease out and continue his momentum.
But when Hall started to gain ground on the leader, a gasp filled the air.
“Real Horrorshow appeared to have everything to his liking, as expected, and when Rebel’s Revenge pulled the pocket it looked like a typical mere perfunctory late challenge,” noted track announcer Mike Sweeney after the race. “There was little warning that the complexion of this race would change so dramatically and so quickly.”
And change it did as the Marc Tardif-trained son of Deuce Seelster, who looked a little headstrong down the backstretch, decided that he had had enough following for the day and proceeded to take command under the shadow of the wire, winning by half a length in 1:58.4.
While trainer Marc Tardif humbly stated that his colt “raced good,” the Leighton Property-owned sophomore not only took a new lifetime mark, but also may have altered the flavor of the upcoming season.
While Mike Sweeney called it the “upset of the year” during his exciting stretch call, the five-year Bangor track announcer has witnessed his fair share of Maine Sire Stakes events, and opined, “perhaps the outlook for this entire division has now tilted.”
Rebel’s Revenge returned $20.40, with no show wagering on the race.
In the earlier $15,609 division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings the 1-2 heavy favorite Daytoremember with Heath Campbell in the bike made quick work of this field from post five.
Rolling through comfortable initial fractions of :29 and 1:00.1, Campbell picked up the tempo and hit them with a 1:28.3 third panel to draw off by three and score in a new lifetime best of 1:57.3.
Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin the son of Dude’s The Man returned $3.00 for his first start of the season.
Itsjustmoney (9-2, Switzer Jr.) finished second; Mia’s Boy (10-1, Mark Athearn) was third.
This ‘glamour boys’ leg was the first $15,000-plus rounds of Maine Sire Stakes action for this division, which starts the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase. This group shall meet again at Cumberland on June 27.
Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland hosts the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21), with the 3-year-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Wednesday (June 24).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com
