Three $20,000 divisional eliminations of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund stakes for two-year-old pacing colts went postward on Tuesday’s 15-race Harrington Raceway program.
The final division featured a showdown of two local pacing heavyweights and previous elimination winners, Hawker and Elite Awards, who had previously not met in their limited previous on-track performances with eight total starts combined between the pair.
When the dust settled, the showdown was as advertised as Karen Walls’ Elite Awards ($4.20, George Dennis) came away victorious in 1:55, equaling the track record for two-year-old pacing geldings.
The Powerful Toy gelding, sat behind slight favourite Hawker, who set fractions of :29, :57.4 and 1:27. Elite Awards gathered momentum and tipped to the outside to edge clear in deep stretch for a half-length win over a game Hawker.
It was the third win in four lifetime starts for Elite Awards and trainer David Rearic.
Cavalli Pazzi Stables’ Casino Bags Carlo ($2.40, Vince Copeland) was a popular winner in an earlier division. The Roddys Bags Again gelding blew by the leaders late to prevail by three lengths over a late charging Bohemia. It was the second career win for the Copeland-trained Casino Bags Carlo.
The remaining division was held off the wagering program, as Daryl Bier, Christina Haislip and Charles Dombeck’s Solace (Bier) held off Above The Storm in a tight photo finish in 1:56.4. It was the first career win in three lifetime starts for Solace and trainer/driver Bier.
The top eight point-getters in the DSBF two-year-old colt and gelding ranks will return to compete in the $100,000 final on October 22.
In the overnight feature Tuesday, North State Street Stable’s Monochromatic ($3.20, Corey Callahan) notched her 45th career win in 1:53 for trainer Dylan Davis.
Drivers Jim Morand, George Dennis and Ross Wolfenden each had three winners on the card.
(Harrington Raceway)