Tardif Taskforce poised for big day

CUMBERLAND, ME – Three-year-old Maine-bred harness racing pacers invade the Cumberland Fair on Wednesday (Sep. 28) for the penultimate $18,000-plus legs of the Maine Breeders Stakes (MSBS).

With the 150^th Cumberland Fair in full swing, the colts and the fillies each have their own division at the iconic Southern Maine oval, with both events being raced ‘on the card.’

The Tardif Taskforce is out in force with three of the six entrants in the $18,554 MSBS 3-year-old colt and gelding pace hailing from their large contingent.  The Mark Tardif-owned entry of Storm Artist (Gaelic Thunder, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Deal With It Roman (Western Maverick, Walter Case Jr.) leave from posts one and four respectively.  The coupled betting interests have been installed as the 5-2 favorite.

Storm Artist is still looking for that elusive first seasonal victory, where stablemate Deal With It Roman has 5 wins and is tied for second place in the points standings with Bandolito Blaze (Western Maverick, Heath Campbell / Valerie Grondin) who will score from post 5.

Daughtry (Western Maverick, Ron Cushing / Heidi Gibbs) rounds out the top three contenders and is listed at 7-2 from post 2.

The Tardif Taskforce is prominently positioned for the $18,972 MSBS 3-year-old filly pace as well, securing three of seven posts in the competitive crusade.  With divisional leaders Pembroke Legacy and Wolverina skipping this week, this group should enjoy greater diversity at the finish wire.

Tardif’s ownership entry of Wicked Kissa (Western Maverick, Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Um Erika (Western Maverick, Dan Deslandes) lead the charge, with the former looking for her first seasonal victory and the latter having found the winners circle just once this year.

The most accomplished of the bunch is Sweet Baby G (Baron Biltmore, Walter Case Jr. / Fred Ward Jr.) who is coming off a win at Farmington last week.  She will have to tangle with CBF Fin (Eighteen, Dave Ingraham / David Crochere) who was race timed in 1:56.2 on Sunday while racing against tougher foes in the Massachusetts Sire Stakes.

The Maine-bred racing continues with the 3-year-old trotters on Thursday (Sept. 29) at Cumberland, which is also the site of the $240,000-plus Maine Breeders Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday (Oct. 1).

The final stop on the Pine Tree State fair circuit is historic Fryeburg, Oct 6 – 8.  The Maine-sired sophomore finale returns to Bangor for all of the 3-year-old MSBS divisional finals on Oct. 15.

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

For complete race entries, click here.

by Chris Tully, for the Maine Breeders Stakes