On Thursday, a three-year-old trotter ran his lifetime defeated streak to an even dozen while a half-mile track specialist paced his way back into the record books flashing 1:50 speed.
The richest day of the year for Delaware horsemen Thursday at Harrington Raceway saw the completion of four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) final events as well as signature events for older horses on the 13-race program.
The annual Governor’s Day program during the Delaware State Fair was host to a large crowd who was treated to some entertaining racing under perfect weather conditions.
While the crowd was treated to an abundance of dazzling performances, perhaps the most noteworthy was that of trotting colt I Like My Boss ($2.10, Jon Roberts) who remained unbeaten in 12 starts with a 1:57.2 triumph for co-owner/trainer Bob Shahan in his $100,000 final. He is co-owned by Jimmy and Ashley Parsons.
In an uncharacteristic front-end performance, the three-year-old Don Boss Vita gelding set all the fractions in his four length win over LGs Pride and Odessa.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Shahan. “We had a setback last year which got him to the races a little bit later, but he’s been super.”
In the $40,000 Governor’s Cup, John Dayton’s Just A Jolt ($6.40, Victor Kirby) overcame post eight to notch his 12th seasonal win in 1:50. Trained by Jim King, Jr., the four-year-old Village Jolt gelding assumed the command early from post eight and held off Malak Uswaad N and Getitoffyourchest for the one length win. Just A Jolt equaled his own track record.
The Honourable Governor Jack Markell was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections, after capping his full slate of activities at the Delaware State Fair’s traditional Governor’s Day.
In the DSBF filly pacing final, a track record performance was set by Garnet O’Marrow’s Seboomook Fool Yah ($2.40, Allan Davis) with a 1:52.1 victory over Jonigold and Megginspin. The Wayne Givens-trainee was a ten-length winner feasting first-over after a hot pace. It was her 15th career win in 22 starts.
In the DSBF pacing colt final, Karen Walls’ Elite Awards ($3.40, George Dennis) was victorious in 1:53.3 over Casino Bags Carlo and West Star Director. The Powerful Toy gelding was a wire-to-wire winner and recorded his 13th career win for trainer David Rearic.
Richard Lombardo, JJ&M Stable and Pam Wagner’s Kelseys Commando ($11.20 Victor Kirby) was another post eight winner for Kirby. The CR Commando filly parlayed a pocket trip to victory over Bellas Spunkin and Overnight Hit. It was one of three wins for Kirby, who also trains the trotting filly.
On the undercard, North State Street Stable’s Monochromatic ($2.40, Corey Callahan) won her third straight Legislator’s Cup for trainer Dylan Davis. E & K Stable and Lois and Earl Walters’ Im So Striking ($13.80) scored a minor upset in the $30,000 Charles Murphy Memorial Trot for trainer/driver Eddie Dennis.
(Harrington Raceway)