With temperatures hovering in the upper 60s most of the day, it was a welcome change from previous years when 90-plus degree temperatures were the norm.
Four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for 3-year-old pacers and trotters were the centerpiece of the 13-race program, which boasted total purses in excess of $600,000.
In the Jim Case Memorial for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, the last DSBF final on the program, Rodney Long, Tim Hundertpfund and Joe Hundertpfund’s Hot Roddy ($5.40, George Dennis) was victorious in 1:54.4 over By A Time and Beammeupscottie. Hot Roddy was his usual aggressive self and set all the fractions in winning his 12th career race in 14 starts. Trained by Joe Hundertpfund, the Roddy’s Bags Again gelding boosted his lifetime bankroll to nearly $250,000.
The first DSBF final, for filly pacers, featured a 13-1 upset win by Seboomook Boo Yah ($29, Allan Davis) for owner Garnet O’Marrow. The Wayne Givens-trainee was sent for the early lead and never relented in her two length score in 1:55. The daughter of Funny Bones notched her seventh lifetime win over KJ’s Caroline and Women Rule.
Winbak Farm, Leblanc Racing and Jeff Franklin’s Starlit Eyes ($5.40, Ross Wolfenden) scored in the final for trotting fillies. She was a wire-to-wire winner in 2:00.2 over Irish Sport and Bosston Chevel for trainer Steve Leblanc. The CR Commando filly earned her fourth lifetime win as her career earnings ballooned to nearly $150,000 lifetime. The race was named in honor of former Harrington Raceway President Jack Walls.
In the Hal Belote Memorial for trotting colts, the third DSBF final to be raced, the complexion of the race immediately changed when favorites Royal Briefing and Triple Command broke stride and J&E Stable and Al Moor’s Good Skies ($72.80, Eddie Davis, Jr.) emerged a winner over Solo Command and Triple Command. Trained by Janet Davis, Good Skies received a pocket trip behind Solo Command and surged by in the stretch for the win in 2:00.2. It was the first career win for the son of Giant Hit.
The $40,000 Governor’s Cup was the headliner for older horses as Peter Tritton’s Malak Uswaad N ($2.20, Tim Tetrick) overcame post eight to prevail in 1:52.3 over Eagle All and Fancyfreeshark. A 5-year-old Bettor's Delight stallion, Malak Uswaad N registered his 17th career win with a sustained first-over bid that eventually catapulted him to the lead as pacesetter Sunshine Superman went offstride after the half-mile.
The Honorable Governor Jack Markell was on hand to participate in post-race ceremonies in honoring the winning connections and presenting the trophy.
The $30,000 Legislator’s Cup featured some of Delaware’s top pacing mares and honored the memory of long-time Delaware Senator Thurman Adams. Jr. North State Street Stable’s Monochromatic ($3.20, Corey Callahan) was able to survive an overland route for a one length win in 1:54.3 over I Know Nothing and Alice’s Restaurant.
The $30,000 Charles Murphy Memorial Trot was fulfilled by an evenly matched group of trotters as 9-year-old Photo Maxx ($10.80, Victor Kirby) benefitted from a pocket trip to prevail over Gurf and Awsome Valley in 1:56.3.
The sub-division of the Governor’s Cup was the $20,000 President’s Cup which was won by Joann Looney-King and Thomas Kemp’s Panfully Cool ($4.00, Kirby) in 1:54.
Live racing resumes on a Monday through Thursday schedule beginning Aug. 12 through Oct. 24.