Some of harness racing’s top older pacers will descend on the hub of Delaware this Monday (Sept. 21) for the ninth annual $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial Invitational at Harrington Raceway.
Carded as the eighth race on a 13-race program, eight pacers with combined lifetime earnings of nearly $13 million will duke it out in a showdown of some of the sport’s elite older pacing ranks, including three-time Quillen champion (2010, 2011, 2014) and the richest horse of all-time in harness racing, Foiled Again (2-1, Yannick Gingras). The 11-year-old Dragon Again gelding is coming off a difficult trip from the 10 hole in the Canadian Pacing Derby.
A fresh threat to Harrington, Canadian-based Shamballa (5-2, Rick Zeron) enters in terrific form and fresh off a second place finish in the $513,750 Canadian Pacing Derby Final.
Three Harrington-area interests are in the field, including Bandolito (5-1, Daryl Bier) who is one of just two horses in the field with a recent win over the track. Milford, Delaware-based trainer Josh Green will send out $1.3 million winner Dancin Yankee and Harrington-based Just a Jolt Is a two-time defending Governors Cup champion over the Harrington oval for trainer Jim King Jr.
The Quillen will be the payoff leg of a $7,500 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool (Races 5 – 8), featured in conjunction with the USTA’s strategic wagering program.
The race is named in honour of the late Delaware legislator Bobby Quillen, who devoted his life to public service and always looked out for the best interests of horsemen. Quillen was also a board member of Harrington Raceway and the Delaware State Fair and was a regular at the races.
Post time for the Monday program is 5:30 p.m. The field for the Quillen is listed below:
$150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial -- Harrington Raceway – Race 8
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Foiled Again (2-1, Yannick Gingras) Owners: Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables; Trainer: Ron Burke
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Shamballa (5-2, Rick Zeron) Owners: Tao Racing and Rick Zeron Stables; Trainer: Rick Zeron
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Mach It So (5-1, Tim Tetrick) Owners: Bamond Racing LLC; Trainer: Jeff Bamond Jr.
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Bandolito (5-1, Daryl Bier) Owner: Daryl Bier; Trainer: Daryl Bier
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Dancin Yankee (25-1, Ross Wolfenden) Owner: Baron Racing, Richard Lombardo; Trainer: Josh Green
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Great Vintage (7-1, Brett Miller) Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Goran Anderberg, Goran Falk; Trainer: Jimmy Takter
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Doctor Butch (15-1, David Miller) Owner: Ken Jacobs; Trainer: Linda Toscano
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Just A Jolt (25-1, Victor Kirby) Owner: Janet Hudson; Trainer Jim King Jr.
(with files from Harrington)