Harrington Raceway’s richest racing program of the season is set for Thursday, July 25 during the Delaware State Fair with more than $650,000 USD in total purses on the 13-race card and a special 7 p.m. post time.
The lion’s share of the purse money is allocated for the four three-year-old Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $110,000 USD final events for three-year-old pacers and trotters. Longtime signature events like the $50,000 USD Governor’s Cup for pacers three years old and up are also among the highlights of the most prestigious program of the year for Delaware horsepeople as all of the money on the program goes exclusively to Delaware-owned or bred horses.
On the wagering front, there is a Pick 4 carryover of $1,264 in the first such sequence on the card in Races 2-5. There is also a late Pick 4 in Races 10-13.
The first DSBF final for male pacers is the opening event on the card, as P T Stable’s Beat Cop (Tim Tetrick) and Captain Pete (Allan Davis), owned by Mulligan Stable, Calcutta Stable and Denise Davis, are set for another showdown. Beat Cop has won 13 of 17 in his career for trainer Crissy Crissman-Bier and successfully swept his eliminations while upstart Captain Pete has won seven of 11 for trainer Jason Johnson.
The next DSBF final event is the sixth race, as filly trotters will go postward. Gary Rhodes’ Lovies Place (Art Stafford Jr.) will look to win her fourth straight for her trainer/driver and figures to be the race favourite. The race is ultra-competitive featuring multiple elimination winners, including Nanticoke Racing and Delbert Cain’s Platinum Proposal (Jim Morand), David Hamm and Glenn Phillips’ Marinos Prize (Ross Wolfenden), Breakaway Racing’s Going Platinum (Corey Callahan) and James Craparotta and Berry Racing’s Daburg (Pat Berry).
The third DSBF final is the eighth race for filly pacers with Jo Ann Looney-King's Curtsyforpurrseco (Tim Tetrick) as the morning line favourite from post eight after dominating her eliminations. The outside post for the chalk may make things interesting as inside contenders who won eliminations include Dylan Davis and Kevin Switzer’s Smalltown Bad Girl (David Miller) and Eric Davis’ Makemymommaproud (Eric Davis). Shawn Hanley’s Grace O’Malley (Corey Callahan) joined Curtsyforpurrseco in sweeping her eliminations.
The male trotting final is one race later as a powerful Les Givens-trained duo will start from the inside, as Nanticoke Racing will send out LGs Jaxon (Jim Morand) and LGs Bluestone (Stafford Jr.), both scored elimination sweeps.
The Governor’s Cup headlines the non-DSBF events as the third race, as Tlb Racing’s Captaincountrystar (Pat Berry) leads the field from post five on a six-race win streak for trainer Traci Berry.
Other popular events on the undercard include the $35,000 USD Legislator’s Cup (pacing mares), $35,000 USD Charles Murphy Memorial Jr. Trot and $25,000 USD President’s Cup (aged pacers).
A complimentary race program for Thursday’s card is available at harringtonraceway.com, courtesy of the Delaware Standardbred Owners Association.
Following the fair day program, the live racing meet at Harrington will resume on Aug. 12.
(Harrington Raceway)