Forrest Bartlett’s Delaware stakes champion Primo Maschio was a 1:54.1 winner in the $31,250 Open Handicap Pace featured during opening night of the 2026 meet at Harrington Raceway on Monday, April 13.
Driven by Jason Green for trainer Kevin Lare, odds-on favourite Primo Maschio ($4.20) was sent to the lead from post two and never looked back in a wire-to-wire win. He finished 2-1/2 lengths in front of Stevens Saloon (Jason Thompson) with T Dog (Russell Foster) and Wehadababyetzaboy (Art Stafford Jr.) dead-heating for third. The win was the 21st in 38 career starts for the four-year-old Badlands Hanover-Primadonna gelding, who has banked more than $600,000 in his career.
Two-time Harrington defending track driving champ Montrell Teague picked up where he left off last year with a driving triple on the 14-race card.
Driver Brandon Givens won both halves of the early Double with Good Looken ($2.80) and Topville Rocknluck ($7.40). Mike Cole won both halves of the late Double with D A Home Stretch ($10.60) and Aloha Blue Chip ($7.60).
An extremely large group of horsemen and industry participants in addition to friends and family gathered outside the paddock gate after race five to honour the memory of the late Shaun Callahan, who passed away last week. Callahan is the son of longtime Mid-Atlantic horsemen Nick and Dolly Callahan and trained horses for over 25 years. Callahan trained his last winner on April 9 when Touch Of White was victorious at Rosecroft Raceway.
Live racing will continue on a Monday through Wednesday schedule with post time at 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Harrington Raceway; photo of Primo Maschio from a previous win)