Delaware horsemen's biggest racing day of the year took place Thursday during Governor's Day at Harrington Raceway during the Delaware State Fair
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Among the 13 races contested, were four $100,000 finals for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) three-year-olds as well as four races for top-level aged horses like the Governor's Cup.
In the $40,000 Governor's Cup Johnny Waite and Rodney Mitchell's Kentucky Rebel surged late for a 1:52.3 win. The seven-year-old Armbro Operative gelding sat third throughout the mile for Ross Wolfenden before finding room in the stretch. They caught pacesetter Sniper Hall for the win. Art Director was second, but placed third due to a break near the finish.
In the first DSBF final, Green Racing, James Outten and Brent Outten's Little Bit Tricky overcame post eight for driver Eric Goodell en route to a 1:55.3 win in the event for three-year-old pacing fillies. Trained by Josh Green, the filly was full of pace to the wire and passed pacesetter Everymileamemory in deep stretch for the win. CJ Crystal finished third.
In the second DSBF final event, the trotting fillies went postward as Mark Waterman's TP Lucy continued her dominance of her class with a 2:00 triumph for driver Tony Morgan. It was her seventh win in eight career starts. TP Lucy was just a $1,000 purchase as a yearling.
Donato Poliseno's Collect The Brass overcame post seven for driver David Miller and took full advantage of a two-hole trip for a 1:58.4 victory in the DSBF final for trotting colts. Special Command was second with Bakermill Blake third.
Richards Stable, Donna Sullivan and Judy Leonard's Rays Big Bubba captured the final stake event of the day in 1:53.1. Trained by Scott Gregoire and driven by Ross Wolfenden, the Badlands Hanover-sired pacer was forced three-wide early approaching the half-mile but was able to collar pacesetter Zee Barber approaching three-quarters and drew clear by two lengths on the wire. Zee Barber held second, while Game Day was third.
In other events for older horses, Victor Kirby and Matthew Ivory's Allmar Surprise stole the show with a 1:56.3 win in the $30,000 Charles D. Murphy Jr. Memorial Trot, setting a new track record for four-year-old trotting mares. The Angus Hall mare set all the fractions for driver Victor Kirby en route to a one length win over Go Nano Go and Looking Hanover.
In the $30,000 Legislator's Cup for aged mares, Joyce and Kathleen Keeler, and Linda Keeler's Ladyfield prevailed with a 1:53.4 win for trainer Victor Keeler II and driver Tony Morgan. It was Ladyfield's sixth of the year as she sat a two-hole trip and sprinted by pacesetter Ball Gown A, who held second, while Ireneonthemove closed for third.
In the $20,000 President's Cup for aged male pacers, The Wiz Kids Stable's Tarver Hanover earned a 1:52.3 victory for driver Corey Callahan.
(Harrington Raceway)