Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings kicked off the Monday, Sept. 29 program at Harrington Raceway with a trio of $27,778 divisions.
The top eight point earners from two weeks of elimination legs will return for the $110,000 USD final on Oct. 13.
Hes Watching-sired horses captured two of the splits, starting with Jo Ann Looney-King's Slugger On Deck ($2.10, Allan Davis), who scored a 1:57.2 win in the first division over Hes A Jetsetter (Corey Callahan) and Slightly Mighty (Jim Morand). After sitting the pocket through fractions of :29.1, :58 and 1:28, the Jim King Jr. trainee exploded home to win by 4-1/4 lengths over the pacesetter for his fourth straight victory.
In the second split, Ron Burke trainee Watch Em Win ($2.10, Tim Tetrick) won impressively in 1:53.4 over My Boy Branson (Art Stafford Jr.) and C Millertimeagain (Corey Callahan). Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi, Watch Em Win led every step of the way through fractions of :29.3, :58.4 and 1:26.3 before coasting home a three-length winner. Watch Em Win has won four of his seven races this year.
George Teague Jr.'s South Of The Hood ($4, Montrell Teague) won the final division for trainer Clyde Francis over Stained Glass (Ross Wolfenden) and Roman Raider (Barton Dallious), who was placed third via disqualification. South Of The Hood sat third through first half fractions of :28.4 and :58.4 before going first up at three-quarters in 1:27.1 and getting the wire first a nose in front of Stained Glass in 1:56. It was the first career win for the Southwind Lynx colt.
In the overnight feature, the $25,000 Open, Richard Ashley and Michael Cain's Stevens Saloon ($6, Jason Thompson) remained in top form with a 1:52 triumph over Itsrockandroll A (Allan Davis) and Master Rigger (Barton Dalious). The four-year-old Always B Miki gelding fought gamely first-over before edging a nose in front of pacesetter Itsrockandroll A at the wire for his 10th win of the year.
(With files from Harrington Raceway; photo of Watch Em Win winning on Sept. 29)