The Indiana fair circuit moves north this weekend as the "Quest for the Governor's Cup" enters round 10. The Elkhart County 4-H Fair in Goshen, Ind., will host a trio of programs beginning with a 13-race card Saturday (July 23). Action continues Monday, July 25 with a seven-race program, and eight contests are slated for Tuesday, July 26. Racing kicks off at 11 a.m. each day.

The Classic Pace for three year olds headlines Saturday’s program. A group of seven sophomore fillies will go postward in the 11th race, competing for a $12,100 purse. Pure Silky, a 1:51.4 winner this season, starts from post five for trainer and driver Doug Rideout. To her inside is Odds On Number One, trained by Melanie Wrenn. The Odds On Equuleus filly has a 1:52.2 victory to her credit this season, and will be guided by Peter Wrenn. The field also includes JK Endofanera sophomores Lady Angel, JK Lady Star and Latest Kiss, all winners this season at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. 

Two colt divisions have been drawn, offered as races 12 and 13 on the program. The $6,350 first division features Lucks On Time starting from the outside post in the field of five. The son of Luck Be Withyou, trained by Missy Essig, finished third in Indiana Sires Stakes competition earlier this season. The Joe Putnam-trained Everything Z Tam has also drawn into the first division. The two-time winner lines up in post four for driver Joey Putnam. Odds On Alpha Male and Frequent Image will square off in the $6,450 second division. Both pacers have 1:50.4 victories to their credit. Odds On Alpha Male starts from post two for Peter Wrenn while trainer Robert Taylor will steer Frequent Image from post five.

Tuesday’s program features the Maple City Trot, with a pair of divisions for both sophomore fillies and colts. Five-time winner Walk With Me leads a field of five in the first filly split, carded as race five. Rideout will pilot his charge from post three in the $6,400 contest. Divisional points leader Crescent Beauty lines up along the rail in the other $6,500 contest for fillies. To her outside is three-time winner Fashion’s Way (post two), 1:56.1 winner Jesses Doll (post four) and My Sweet Mi Mi, a 1:56.4 winner (post five).

The $6,200 first split for trotting colts has attracted a top group, all with victories in 2022. Starlit Dandy, the fastest in the field with a 1:55 mark, starts from the rail, joined by Piningforgold (1:56.1), Summit City Sonny (1:58) and divisional points leader Lonestar Fashion, who starts from the outside post. Five-time winner Hand Dover Dan leads a field of six in the second split, which carries a $6,300 purse. The group also includes winners Spent, Muscle Dan and Jesmach Onyx.

Doug Rideout maintains a 42-31 advantage over Jordan Ross in the driver’s standings. Ross picked up two winners last week while Rideout did not reach the winner’s circle. Jay Cross collected three wins at Shelbyville to move past Michael Detweiler for third in the standings with 15 winners. Neither Rideout nor Mervin Schmucker sent out winners at Shelbyville, so they remain atop the standings with 47 and 19 victories, respectively. Alvin Miller conditioned two winners at Shelbyville to draw even with Leander Schwartz for third in the standings, each with 12 scores. 

Listed below are the top eight point earners in each division, including ties, through nine rounds of the Quest. Points are tabulated by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Horses earn a point for each start made on the fair circuit, with race winners awarded 50 points. A second-place finish merits 25 points, a third-place effort yields 12 points, eight points are awarded for fourth place and five points for fifth place. The top eight point earners in each division that have also made the prerequisite seven fair starts will compete in the $25,000 Governor's Cup Championships to be held August 11 at the Indiana State Fair. All horses that have made seven or more starts are designated below with an asterisk.

Two-Year-Old Filly Pace

Kruisin Kristen* 332; Check In Process* 290; Here We Go BB 243; Go Go Jackie Jo* 208; Swartz Bros Elen* 202; Virgins Big Money* 192; Tell Me Lies* 186; Live Your Life 180

Two-Year-Old Colt Pace

M-Ms Tony* 294; Lil Joe Iv* 257; Isitlikeittell* 208; Master Splinter 179; Vel Big Bruiser* 168; Mercy Rock* 157; Starlit Rockstar 141; Vel Dwayne* 139

Two-Year-Old Filly Trot

If Not For You* 265; Tucky Girl 223; Cash In The Bank* 219; Sure Do 218; Unforgettable* 211; Swartz Bros Donna* 181; Edge Of Rejoicing* 167; Youknowyoudid 154

Two-Year-Old Colt Trot

Help Dust* 295; Mr Knowitall 255; Prince Henry 236; Starlit Swan Song 198; A Majorsmackin* 181; Reckless Reviver 179; Cantab Superstar* 173; Closed Deal 138

Three-Year-Old Filly Pace

Babes Darla* 274; Al Perfection* 204; Mystical Image 189; Velstraightdreamer* 163; Vel Goodgollymolly* 157; Zig Zag Zoom* 156; Lady Angel 102; Swartz Bros Jane* 96

Three-Year-Old Colt Pace

Virgins Beach Boy* 269; Vel Bitter Chip* 209; Vel Larry* 198; Always-A-Laser 154; Vel Wemiss U Dean* 130; Riggins Revenge 129; One Lucky Dude 102; Luckychris 86

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot

Crescent Beauty* 383; Walk With Me* 307; Fashions Way* 231; Double A Samantha 155; First N Line* 114; Tabsladyone 113; Swans Lady* 103; Dover Dance 84

Three-Year-Old Colt Trot

Lonestar Fashion* 295; Hand Dover Dan* 269; Vel Jail Bondsman* 186; Summit City Sonny 172; Mollys Jail* 170;  Swartz Bros Sam* 143; Muscle Dan 103; V Keys Striper 60

Racing fans are encouraged to follow along and participate this season using #Quest4GovCup on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Quest for the Governor’s Cup Locations and Dates

• Complete - Round 1: Converse, Ind. - June 1 & 2
• Complete - Round 2: Converse, Ind. - June 8 & 9
• Complete - Round 3: Corydon, Ind. - June 16 & 17
• Complete - Round 4: Converse, Ind. - June 21 & 22
• Complete - Round 5: Frankfort, Ind. - June 27 & 28
• Complete - Round 6: Frankfort, Ind. - July 4 & 5
• Complete - Round 7: Kendallville, Ind. and Kentland, Ind. - July 9
• Complete - Round 8: Portland, Ind. - July 13
• Complete - Round 9: Shelbyville, Ind. - July 18 & 19
• Round 10: Goshen, Ind. - July 23, 25 & 26
• Round 11: Connersville, Ind. - August 1 & 2
• Round 12: Portland, Ind. - August 6
• Governor’s Cup Championships: Indianapolis, Ind. - August 11

Indiana fair races will be available via livestream this season through a partnership between the Indiana Standardbred Association and Indiana Standardbred Breed Development. Fans can watch fair racing by visiting the ISA website, indianaharness.com, on race days. Races will be archived on the website.

For a complete and printable list of all Indiana harness racing dates for 2022, click here.  If you have questions about the Indiana fair racing program, contact the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at 317-233-3119 or email [email protected].

(USHWA Indiana)