A trio of  $28,169 divisions for round one of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings headlined the Monday, Sept. 28 program at Harrington Raceway.

The top eight point earners from two rounds of eliminations will return to compete in the $110,000 USD final on Oct. 12.

Hawaiian Warfare ($2.10), driven by Mike Cole, continued a promising start to his young career with his fifth win in six career starts. Blue Jays Watchin (Tony Morgan) cut the quarter in :28.1 before favourite Hawaiian Warfare brushed to the lead before the :56.1 opening half. Hawaiian Warfare reached three-quarters in 1:26 before holding off a charge from Blue Jays Watchin for the win in 1:55.4 by a neck. DMs Delight (Brandon Givens) was third.  Trained by Erin Nielson, the U S Captain-Ukulele Blue Chip gelding will bid for his sixth straight win next week in the second leg. Hawaiian Warfare was bred and owned by Forrest Bartlett of Shiloh, North Carolina.

Earls Watching ($14.80) and driver Brandon Givens won the next division for trainer Les Givens in 1:57.4. Earls Watching got away on top through a quarter of :29.3 before being covered up by favourite Hes Soaring (Ryder Skinner) before the half in :58.3. Earls Watching stalked Hes Soaring to three-quarters in 1:28.3 before getting up from the pocket to outduel that foe by a neck on the wire. Crown Apple Beach (Montrell Teague) finished in the third position. The maiden-breaking Highalator-Ella Rose gelding was bred and is owned by Donna Messick of Laurel, Delaware.

Bootcamp Baby ($4.60) and driver Allan Davis won the final division in 1:56 for trainer Jim King Jr. Bootcamp Baby was a front-end victor, laying down fractions of :29, :58.3, and 1:27.3 before opening up by two lengths on the wire over favourite Aeneas (Montrell Teague) with Beachalator (Brandon Givens) a distant third. The Hes Watching-Sniper Hanover gelding is now two-for-four in his career for local owner Jo Ann Looney-King.

In the $25,352 Open II Pace, Armada Hanover ($4.20) was a 1:53 winner for driver Brandon Givens and trainer Wayne Givens. Brandon Givens had five wins on the card, three of which were for trainer Wayne Givens with BCs Odds On ($2.10, 1:57.1) and Roman Raider ($6.20, 1:56.1) in addition to Amada Hanover.

Ridin The Waves ($6) won his seventh straight race for driver Tony Morgan and trainer/co-owner Daniel Munson, scoring in 1:54.2 in a $16,197 claiming pace. The four-year-old Downbytheseaside-Takealilridewithme gelding has won 10 of his 16 starts on the season for Munson and co-owner Penelope Morgan of Warwick, Maryland.

DSBF pacing fillies headline the Tuesday, Sept. 29 program. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

(With files from Harrington Raceway; photo of Hawaiian Warfare)