Tardif rallies troops for MSBS sortie

CUMBERLAND, ME – Some folks say that the Marc Tardif stable brings a small but powerful army to the Maine Breeders Stakes races.  On some days that is particularly true, especially this Saturday (July 16) at Cumberland where Tardif has stuffed the box with a total nine harness racing entries in the three Maine-sired events, three in each race.  Certainly, the unofficial leader of that army must be the homebred Deal With It Roman (Western Maverick).

Last season, Deal With It Roman was a force to be reckoned with in the 2-year-old pacing colt ranks.  Winning six of nine starts, all in Maine Breeders Stakes company, the Marc Tardif owned, bred and trained pacer made his final seasonal start a memorable one.

In the $63,160 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake 2-year-old colt and gelding pacing final, driver Kevin Switzer Jr., was forced to leave hard from post seven over a rain-soaked track.  Being parked to the front in a :27.3 first quarter, in the slop, on a half-mile track, would take the sting out of most horses.  Nonetheless Switzer Jr. found cover and was sitting in the two hole by the half and even got a 31 second-panel breather.

Just past the half, Ugotaearnyourstripes, the betting favorite had moved first over, boxing Deal With It Roman in third along the rail.  As the cavalry charge moved up the backstretch and the leaders were spun out three-wide, Switzer Jr. ducked off the rail, found racing room and swooped the pack on the final turn.  Pacing wide in the center of the racetrack, reeling in horses with every stride, the victorious reinsman hoisted his whip in victory as he crossed the finish line in 2:00.2 to win by a measured length.

Tardif was pleasantly surprised, but not shocked.  “I never really considered [winning, because both his charges] had drawn posts 7 and 8.”

Deal With It Roman, finished the 2021 season with $70,029 on his card, having never missed a check.  From the Cam’s Card Shark mare Deal With Life, the colt got his name as a weanling says his breeder/owner Marc Tardif.

“He has a Roman nose, was somewhat opinionated, and had a hard time dealing with certain situations,” Tardif recalled.  “Hence the name, we used to tell him to ‘Deal with it Roman’ quite a lot.”

Evidently the name stuck, however, once he was gelded “he has handled everything in stride,” Tardif added.

Described by his trainer as a ‘big, growthy colt,’ the Tardif Taskforce stables in Bell, Florida over the winter and reportedly the horse has returned for his 3-year-old season ‘bigger’ and “grew a lot over the winter while turned out.”

Once again, Deal With It Roman has been a model of consistency this season, having won all three of the Maine Breeders Stakes in which he has competed.  He took his 1:58.3 record winning one of Cumberland’s $5,000 Sneak Peek prep races, with his regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. at the controls.

Deal With It Roman scores from post two in the first non-betting race on Saturday’s (July 16) card at Cumberland, post time 2:30 pm, vying for a purse of $12,479.  There are nine horses programmed in the single division for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers:

(Post position – horse, driver, trainer)

1 – CBF Squirt Gun (Deuce Seelster), Nick Graffam, David Crochere

2 – Deal With It Roman (Western Maverick), Kevin Switzer Jr., Marc Tardif

3 – Ranaldi (Western Maverick), Ron Cushing, Heidi Gibbs

4 – Storm Artist (Gaelic Thunder), Andy Harrington, Marc Tardif

5 – Daughtry (Western Maverick), Aaron Hall, Heidi Gibbs

6 – Bandolito Blaze (Western Maverick), Heath Campbell, Valerie Grondin

7 – Ugotaearnyrstripes (Deuce Seelster), David Ingraham, Steve LaCasse

8 – Stormin Maverick (Western Maverick), Walter Case Jr., Marc Tardif

9 – Use Yah Blinkah (Western Maverick), Drew Campbell, Valerie Grondin

Saturday also has two $11,000-plus divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings before the pari-mutuel card.  Non-betting races two and three go off at 2:45 and 3:00 pm respectively.

Friday’s (July 15) card includes an $11,878 leg of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies, which is an early, non-wagering race at 3:15 pm. The Maine-bred pacers continue with two more legs for 3-year-old pacing fillies on the regular program, first post 4 pm at Cumberland.

The $11,000-plus divisions are carded as races one and three, the first of which includes Pembroke Legacy who is a perfect 3-for-3 in Maine Breeders Stakes action this season for trainer Valerie Grondin and driver Heath Campbell.  The sophomore daughter of Baron Biltmore is owned and was bred by Bill Varney and boasts $124,827 in lifetime earnings.

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow our facebook page @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to the Maine State website by clicking here.

For complete Friday non-wagering race entries, click here.

For complete Friday pari-mutuel race entries, click here.

For complete MSBS race entries, click here.

For complete Saturday pari-mutuel race entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland