The richest day of the year for Delaware horsemen is set for Thursday as 13 races are carded for the annual Governor’s Day program during the Delaware State Fair at Harrington Raceway. More than $600,000 in purses will be offered on the annual program held exclusively for Delaware-owned horses, that also features four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $100,000 final events for Delaware-bred horses. Post time is 11 a.m.
The first of the DSBF final events is slated third on the program as K&R Racing and Teague Inc.’s She’s Everything (5/2, Jim Morand) will vie for a sweep of the 3-year-old filly pacing stakes at Harrington after winning both of her elims. The task won’t come easy though as fellow elim winners Delauction’s Everymileamemory (3/1, Tony Morgan), Nick Callahan’s Robindarich (4-1, Corey Callahan), and Thomas Cooke’s Tom’s Toy (5-1, Jon Roberts) are among a field of eight chasing the crown for Delaware’s top 3-year-old pacing filly.
The filly trotting final will follow as the fourth race, with elimination winners Pam Wagner’s JA’s Commando (3-1, John Wagner), Mark Waterman’s TP Lucy (5/2, Tony Morgan) Nanticoke Racing and Mark King’s Bristy Crinkley (8-1, Brandon Givens), and Joann Looney-King’s Stashi (5-1, Jim King Jr.) head a field of eight.
The ninth race is for the DSBF trotting colts as brothers Wayne and Les Givens have dominated the trotting stakes at Harrington the last several years, and feature some of the top contenders yet again. Wayne Givens-trained Bakermill Blake (2-1, Bob Shahan) for owners Vicki Givens and Sherri & Blake Baker and Vicki Givens and Doris Marine’s Spent Force (2-1, Ross Wolfenden) form a powerful entry and will start from posts three and four. Les Givens-trained Ruby Ransom (3-1, Brandon Givens) for the Nanticoke Racing Stable and Ed Maas, will start from post two.
The last of the stakes finals will be contested 11th on the program with favorites Ray’s Big Bubba and Zee Barber drawing the dreaded outside posts. Richards Stable, Donna Sullivan and Judy Leonard’s "Bubba" drew post seven after winning both of his elims for conditioner Scott Gregoire. Meanwhile Gary and Barbara Iles’ ‘Barber’ also swept his elims, but drew post eight for trainer George Teague.
The featured event for older pacers on the card is the $40,000 Governor’s Cup, in which the Honorable Governor Jack Markell will be on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections. There will also be the $30,000 Legislator’s Cup for Delaware’s top mares, and the $30,000 Charles D. Murphy Memorial Trot for the First State’s top trotters. (Harrington)