Massive Speed grabs fifth consecutive victory

CUMBERLAND, ME – Massive Speed (Dude’s The Man) showed that he is the big man on campus this season in the Maine Sire Stakes 3-year-old male pacing harness racing division, picking up his fifth in a row on Friday (Aug. 1) at Cumberland Raceway.

Winning the first $11,937 division of the glamour boys group in lifetime best equaling 1:57.4, the Marc Tardif trainee has not seen the back of helmet since last season when he anointed himself the ‘Maine’ Monster of the Midway with a perfect 10-for-10 in the freshman follies.

Driven from pillar to post by Bruce Ranger for owner Leighton Property, the son of Dude’s The Man has earned a handsome sum of $30,291 this year, to bring his lifetime bankroll to $164,821.

Bred in Maine by Laurie Harding, Massive Speed won in hand by 4-3/4 lengths and paid $2.40 as the 1/5 favorite.  Race Me Celtic (Drew Campbell) finished second; Ridgecrest Dan (John Nason) was third.

MASSIVE SPEED REPLAY

In the second $11,937 division Keenan Star (9-2, Heath Campbell) rolled out to an early lead, clearing just after the :28.3 opening panel.  Easing the tempo a bit, the son of Western Maverick led the pack through a softer :59.2 mid-way point.

Public choice No Guts No Glory (4/5, McGwire Sowers) got away last and had made up significant ground and headed the pacesetter into the 1:29 third panel.  While the aggressor showed some guts with his first over move, he failed to reap the glory as Keenan Star fought back and drew away with a length victory in 1:59.2.

Owned, trained and bred by Valerie Grondin, it was the first win of the year for the homebred colt, earning a new time badge for his efforts.  He paid $11.00 to win.

I’m Not Maverick (Mike Stevenson) finished second; Just Aftermidnight (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. led all drivers with three wins on the program.

Racing resumes on the final day of the summer meet Saturday (Aug. 2), which includes a full card simulcast of Hambletonian Day from the Meadowlands, as well as two $11,623 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers.  Doors open at 12 noon, but first live post is still 3:15 pm.

The featured race of the day is the annual $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, which is carded as race nine.  Leading the charge in this group is Tenzing Bromac N (2-1, Ron Cushing) who was just third in the $75,000 Beckwith Memorial at Plainridge.  With 20 wins down under, the 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight is making his first start on a half-mile track.

Former Maine Sire Stakes star Two Fold Cold (5-2, Dave Ingraham) is the second choice from post four, and he finished second in that same rich Beckwith Mem.

In addition, there are two $11,623 divisions of 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, a $10,000 Open Trot, and three $8,000 End of Summer Pop Up Series finals.

Post time for both days is 3:15 pm, and there is a Trifecta in all races, and the program also features a plethora of exotic wagers.  Cumberland’s Pick 5 begins with the third race, and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Live video and replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland