A pair of $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for two-year-old trotters were contested on the penultimate Harrington Raceway program of 2014 Wednesday over a 'sloppy' racetrack.
Stephanie and Brian Cassell’s Political Foe ($19.40, Eddie Dennis) was an upset winner in 2:01.2 in the colt and gelding final, passing the 1-9 favourite Political Cash, who led throughout, in the stretch for a decisive win. Win Power finished third. It was the second career win for the son of Political Briefing. Trained by his driver Dennis, Political Foe had a win and second-place finish in his two eliminations prior to the final.
Meanwhile, Bib Roberts, Graham Grace Stables and M&W Stables’ Callmemza ($9.40, Jon Roberts), who won both of her elimination races, prevailed in the filly trotting final in 2:04.2 over Sign N Drive and Penny Paratrooper. It was an eventful race in which seven of the eight fillies went off stride at some point in the mile. Callmemza was not unscathed after making an early miscue shortly after the start, but she recovered and reeled in Sign N Drive late for her third straight win for trainer Bib Roberts. Callmemza is a daughter of Great George Two, an accomplished trotter whom Roberts campaigned in the early 2000's.
“To have a horse like Great George Two, and to be able to race his offspring for our family is just a great ride,” said driver Jon Roberts, son of trainer Bib Roberts. “It was an eventful night with the weather and these young fillies didn’t want to cooperate and we got the best of it. We made our mistake before everyone else did and fortunately it didn’t hurt us as bad as it could have if it happened later on in the race.”
Leigh Raymer’s I Got Spunk ($4.80, Callahan) won the $20,000 DSBF filly consolation in 2:03, while Jason Skinner’s Vangoghpaintsred ($36, Vince Copeland) was triumphant in 2:05 in the $20,000 DSBF colt and gelding consolation.
Corey Callahan drove four winners on the card, while Jon Roberts had three.
The final night of racing for the 2014 Harrington meet is Thursday, October 23.
(Harrington Raceway)