June 14, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes (Shelley Gilpatrick photos)

BANGOR, ME – Maine’s leading money-winning freshman pacer of 2022, Luke McGook, returned to his winning ways at Bangor on Wednesday (June 14), taking the fastest of two $15,376 divisions of the season’s opening round of Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Driven by Kevin Switzer Jr. for trainer Marc Tardif in the second non-betting race, the son of Rock N’ Roll World grabbed the lead just past the 27.2 opening panel, following a little front-end fisticuffs by Wicked Scorchah and Drew Campbell.

From that point forward it was all over but the shouting as the pair coasted home in dominant fashion, tripping the timer in 1:57.  Coming off of two preps at Gil Crest Training Center in April and a final tune-up last week at Cumberland, the Leighton Property-owned sophomore never had an anxious moment, dashing home with a 28.3 final quarter while winning by 3-1/4 lengths.

Bred by Erika Saucier, Luke McGook was never worse than second during his freshman campaign, winning 8 of 13 and earning a hefty $140,457 for his efforts.  Following the stakes races, his regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. won an additional three overnight races on the regular program at Bangor, which brought his current lifetime dash win total to 2,996.

So Rock N’ Roll (Walter Case Jr.) finished second, and was also trained by Marc Tardif.  Wicked Scorchah was third.

Last season’s Maine Sire Stakes freshman final winner, Two Towns Over (Aaron Hall), finished a hard-charging second to the faster-closing Colt Bennett (Bruce Ranger), who ultimately won the first $15,376 non-betting event.

Also a son of Rock N’ Roll World, Colt Bennett had to score from the outermost post seven, and was forced to come second over and catch the pack from off the pace. 

Someones Hero (Andrew Harrington) grabbed the lead and controlled the tempo with modest fractions of 30, 1:00.3 and 1:29.1 before being overtaken down the stretch by the David Crochere-trained Colt Bennett.  Throwing in a 28.3 final quarter was all it took to make up nearly three lengths in the final goings to win by a neck for owner Nancy Longobardi in 1:58.2. 

It was the second win of the year for Colt Bennett, who was bred by Steve O’Toole.  Two Towns Over finished second; Someones Hero was third. 

The Maine Sire Stakes resumes on Saturday’s (June 17) Cumberland Raceway program, which has two $14,684 divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies.  Slated as races one and nine on the regular card, first post is 3:15 pm.  For full entries click here:

https://racing.ustrotting.com/goto.aspx?target=12,89907

With up to ten legs for each division throughout the summer and autumn months, and purses on the rise, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes has been promoting and providing a venue for Pine Tree State Standardbreds since the legislative establishment of the program in 1972. 

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

June 13, 2023 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes

BANGOR, ME – Two full fields of eight 3-year-old pacers highlight the first round of Maine Sire Stakes action at Bangor on Wednesday (June 14), which marks the start of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase. 

With up to ten legs for each division throughout the summer and autumn months, and purses on the rise, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes has been promoting and providing a venue for Pine Tree State Standardbreds since the legislative establishment of the program in 1972. 

While the series has evolved over the last fifty years…so has the speed and durability of the Maine-bred harness horse.  While it is not uncommon to see horses by Maine sires competing throughout North America, New England drivers and trainers are also making a name for themselves on the National stage.

Bruce Ranger, who recently eclipsed 10,000 lifetime driving victories, is a regular on the Maine Sire Stakes circuit, and will make his presence known when the wings fold at historic Bass Park for the opener.

Last year’s Champion freshmen pacer, Two Towns Over, makes his debut in the first of two non-betting events.  Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin and driven by Aaron Hall, the son of Deuce Seelster won six of nine last season, including the $61,067 final at Cumberland in a track record 1:57.

Sure to be one of the ‘glamour boys’ to keep an eye on this season, Two Town Over is right at home at Bangor, having just put in a couple of impressive qualifying preps over the last several weeks.

“He was real sharp,” noted his regular pilot Hall.  “He’s a handy horse to drive.  You can put him in a spot and ask him to go whenever you need to.”

Hall continued, “I am very excited for the upcoming season.  Val [Grondin] and Heath [Campbell] did a great job bringing him back.  He’s strong and we think he will be as good as he was last year.”

Although Two Towns Over earned $80,374 last year for owner/trainer Grondin, he was not richest freshman of the bunch.  That distinction goes to Luke McGook, who hails from the Tardif ‘Taskforce.’  The 3-year-old son of Rock N’ Roll World competed in both the Maine Sire Stakes and the Massachusetts program at Plainridge.

Finishing second in the Maine final to Two Towns Over on October 1, two days later Luke McGook finished second in a Mass. Stake and then won the next $65,000 event on Oct. 16.  He finished the season with a second place finish in the $125,000 Mass. final at Plainridge, making him one of the richest Maine-bred and sired freshmen pacers of all time.  Bred by Erika Saucier, last year he earned a whopping $140,457 for his Leighton Property owners.

While it’s widely known that the Tardif clan arrives at each venue loaded for bear, this week’s bow is no exception.  Marc and Peggy have six entries in the first two events, and their horses always arrive ‘ready to race.’

Two Towns Over scores from post seven in the first non-betting race on Wednesday’s (June 14) card at Bangor, post time 2:15 pm, while Luke McGook has post two in the second event.

RACE 1 – Bangor Raceway – ME – June 14, 2023
Conditions: MAINE BRED 3 YEAR OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS
Gait: Pace; Purse: $15,376; Post Time: 2:15 PM

(Post, Horse, Age, Sire-Dam, Driver, Trainer)
1, Pembroke Danny Boy, 3, Baron Biltmore-Migraine, Heath Campbell, Valerie Grondin
2, Someones Hero, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Wolf Creek Cupid, Andrew Harrington, Marc Tardif
3, Two Points, 3, Deuce Seelster-Tally Ho, Drew Campbell, Eric Bickmore
4, Ill Rock The World, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Fire Can Fly, Ron Cushing, Heidi Gibbs
5, Rockaroundsam, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Swingnsway Sammy K, Kevin Switzer Jr, Marc Tardif
6, Facemaskrequired, 3, Deuce Seelster- Sally Pansen, Walter Case Jr, Marc Tardif
7, Two Towns Over, 3, Deuce Seelster- City Girl Hanover,  Aaron Hall, Valerie Grondin
8, Colt Bennett 3, Rock N` Roll World- Unbeachable, Bruce Ranger, David Crochere

RACE 2 – Bangor Raceway – ME – June 14, 2023
Conditions: MAINE BRED 3 YEAR OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS
Gait: Pace, Purse: $15,376, Post Time: 2:32 PM

(Post, Horse, Age, Sire-Dam, Driver, Trainer)
1, Anithingforyoudear, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Anianne Hanover, Andrew Harrington, Marc Tardif
2, Luke McGook, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Madonna Hanover, Kevin Switzer Jr, Marc Tardif
3, Race Me Maverick, 3, Western Maverick- Race Me Android, William Childs, William Childs
4, Wicked Scorchah, 3, Western Maverick- Hurricane Emily, Drew Campbell, David Crochere
5, Mattucci, 3, Western Maverick-Paxxie, Aaron Hall, Valerie Grondin
6, Pembroke Revenge, 3, Baron Biltmore- Pembroke Oasis, Heath Campbell, Valerie Grondin
7, World Wide Express, 3, Rock N` Roll World- Express Ball N, Ron Cushing, Heidi Gibbs
8, So Rock N` Roll, 3, Western Maverick- So So Sweet, Walter Case Jr, Marc Tardif

Saturday’s Cumberland program has two $13,500-plus divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies, which are slated as races one and nine on the regular card.  First post is 3:15 pm. 

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

In 1972, the Maine Sire Stakes racing series was created to encourage the breeding and raising of Maine Standardbred horses and to help preserve Maine’s rural economy and open farmland. Maine’s Standardbred Breeders are central to the Sire Stakes racing by providing the quality horses necessary for the races.

Sire Stakes racing is an activity deeply rooted in Maine’s agricultural history. It not only helps protect Maine farmland and agriculture, it preserves a way of life for generations of families as both participants and spectators.

Stakes racing provides a wonderful opportunity for the entire family to participate. Over the summer months the Sire Stakes racing raises awareness and interest in these magnificent athletes by traveling to eight Agricultural fairs as well as Maine’s two commercial tracks.