The entry box for the sixth annual Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway closed earlier today, and this year’s edition will focus on quality not quantity.
Eliminations won’t be necessary since only five names were entered for this year’s event. All five entrants will square off in the $216,500 final on September 17, and the totals purse earnings for the group is close to $10 million.
The impressive field includes two-time defending champion and the all-time richest pacer in North American history, Foiled Again. The Ron Burke-trainee earned that honour on September 1 with his 1:48.3 in the Canadian Pacing Derby Final. Foiled Again’s lifetime earnings stand in excess of $4.3 million.
Meanwhile, the sport’s fastest older male pacer, Betterthancheddar will bid for his ninth win in 11 starts this year for trainer Casie Coleman. Betterthancheddar took his seasonal mark of 1:48 at Pocono Downs on July 30.
The Sam De Pinto-trained We Will See, a winner of nearly $2.5 million lifetime, has the fastest lifetime mark in the field of 1:47.2. He set it last year as four-year-old at The Meadowlands.
Flipper J is fresh off a dazzling 1:50.1 track record-equaling mile at Tioga Downs and has had ample success over half mile tracks in the past for trainer Kevin McDermott.
Locally owned/trained Feel Like A Fool has had a solid season for the George Teague, Jr. stable. He’s coming off a strong second-place finish in a 1:49 mile at Pocono Downs.
Here’s how they’ll line up in the rich tilt:
$216,500 Bobby Quillen Memorial
1. Betterthancheddar (9/5, George Brennan)
2. Foiled Again (8/5, Yannick Gingras)
3. Feel Like A Fool (5-1, Montrell Teague)
4. We Will See (3-1, Ron Pierce)
5. Flipper J (5-1, David Miller)
(Harrington Raceway)