July 26, 2024 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Holli Niles photos)
BANGOR, ME – Kevin Switzer Jr. steered two of the Marc Tardif stable’s six 3-year-old male pacers to wire-to-wire victories in both $16,000-plus legs of the Maine Sire Stakes on Thursday (July 25) at the Bangor State Fair.
Switzer wasted little time as he sent Wes’s Challenge to the top in the 5-horse opener and cruised through comfortable fractions of 29.3 and 1:00.3 to the half. From that point the reinsman rolled into a swifter 1:29.4 third panel en route to a 57.3 back half to win handily in 1:58.1 by 1-1/2 lengths.
It was the second seasonal win for the son of Deuce Seelster who has now won two Maine Sire Stakes events for trainer Marc Tardif and owner Leighton Property. Wes’s Challenge paid $3.20 to win, and was bred by Gary and Kristina Hall.
What’s For Suppaah (Aaron Hall-Michelle Hardin) finished second; Arts Flight (Andy Harrington-Tardif) was third.
In the second $16,461 division the odds-on favorite Two Fold Cold never had an anxious moment, as Switzer allowed the son of Deuce Seelster to set strong fractions of 28.3, 58.4, and 1:27.2 unfettered through the first three stations.
By the head of the stretch under some rain drops the public’s choice had put five lengths between himself and the rest of the field. Under the wire with no urging necessary, the timer read 1:56.2 with the margin of victory being 4-1/2 lengths.
Owned and trained by Marc Tardif he paid just $2.20 to win. Also, bred by Gary and Kristina Hall, it was a nursery double for the Hall’s.
It was the fourth victory of the season in as many starts for the lightly raced gelding. It was also Two Fold Cold’s third Maine Sire Stakes win.
Hesjustadelight (Ron Cushing) finished second; Oakleypopsthedeuce (McGwire Sowers) was third.
The Maine Sire Stakes continues with 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday (July 26) at Cumberland, which is followed by all the 2- and 3-year-old trotters on Saturday (July 27).
For more information about the Maine Sire Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: https://www.mainesirestakes.com
