More than $600,000 in purses was up for grabs today at Harrington Raceway as part of the annual Governor’s Day of racing which took place during the
Delaware State Fair.
Four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) finals were contested for three-year-olds, as well as four $20,000 consolation events.
Chocolate N Roses, who returned $11.60 for the win and was driven by Bret Brittingham, was the first winner in the three-year-old filly trot. The CR Commando filly closed ground late and outkicked a stubborn Miss Snazz to the wire in a tight photo finish. Status Symbol finished third.
Airborne Commando, who returned $6.80 for the win and was driven by Rod Allen, was a wire-to-wire victor in the trotting colt final. The Carlo Poliseno trainee poured it on in what was a six-length score over Wygant Knight and Par Done My Putt.
Enee Weenie And Me, who returned $17.40 for the win and was driven by Jim King, Jr., scored a 7-1 upset in the final for pacing colts. The Badlands Hanover gelding settled in fifth early for his conditioner before mounting an impressive late attack in which he picked off several rivals for a narrow win over McMurray Hanover and Scout Hanover.
The George Teague, Jr.-trained No Bad Luck, who returned $2.40 for the win and was driven by Montrell Teague, cruised to a five-length win in the filly pacing final. She completed a sweep of the DSBF events after capturing the Dover Downs final earlier in the year. Iosmio closed ground late for second, while Sucha Bad Girl held third.
In the featured race for aged pacers, the $40,000 Governor’s Cup, the Teague-trained Mr Wiggles ($2.60, Corey Callahan) set a new track record for four-year-old horses with an impressive 1:51.2 triumph over Sniper Hall and Solano. The Badlands Hanover horse was driven by Corey Callahan and returned $2.60 to win. He assumed command at the quarter-mile marker, never looked back, and went on to post a two-length win.
“He’s such a nice horse,” said Callahan. “We had some bad luck in a few races this year, but he’s been very good to me and is a pleasure to drive.”
The Honorable Governor Jack Markell was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.
“It’s great to be a part of this,” said Markell, who was experiencing his second Governor’s Day. “This is really a special day and I’m glad to be here and participate.”
In other events for aged horses on the program, Rodney L. Wyatt and Rodney K. Wyatt’s Ireneonthemove ($8.20) earned her second $30,000 Legislator’s Cup trophy in 1:53. Meanwhile, 10-year-old JM Vangogh ($3.40, Tony Morgan) front-stepped to a 1:56.4 victory in the $30,000 Charles Murphy Memorial. In the $20,000 President’s Cup, Zee Barber ($4, Montrell Teague) scored a wire-to-wire win in 1:53.
(With files from Harrington)