Governor's Cup card contested at Harrington

Delaware horsemen’s biggest racing day of the year took place Thursday during Governor’s Day at Harrington Raceway during the Delaware State Fair. Among the 13 races contested were four $100,000 finals for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 3 year olds as well as four races for top-level aged horses like the Governor’s Cup.

 

In the $40,000 Governor’s Cup, Johnny Waite and Rodney Mitchell’s Kentucky Rebel ($5.20, Ross Wolfenden) surged late for a 1:52.3 win. The 7-year-old Armbro Operative gelding sat third throughout the mile but a patient Wolfenden found room in the stretch and caught pacesetter Sniper Hall for the win. Art Director was second, but placed third due to a break near the finish.

 

“There really wasn’t much else I could do, I had to just sit and wait, “ said Wolfenden. “In the lane, I saw Sniper Hall out by a length and I thought I was just racing for second, but we got him on the wire.”

 

For trainer, Waite, it was his first Governor’s Cup.

 

“It feels good,” said Waite. “It was all in Ross’ hands and he did the job.”

 

The Honorable Governor Jack Markell was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

 

“It was a thrill to be here today, a really exciting race by Kentucky Rebel and all the horses,” said Markell. “It’s just a wonderful day to be at the fair.”

 

In the first DSBF final, Green Racing, James Outten and Brent Outten’s Little Bit Tricky ($23.40, Eric Goodell) overcame post eight for a 1:55.3 win in the event for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Trained by Josh Green, "Tricky" was full of pace to the wire and passed pacesetter Everymileamemory in deep stretch for the win. CJ Crystal finished third.

 

“We were able to work out a great trip and everything worked out,” said Goodell.

 

In the second DSBF final event, the trotting fillies went postward as Mark Waterman’s TP Lucy ($3.20, Tony Morgan) continued her dominance of her class with a 2:00 triumph for her seventh win in eight career starts. TP Lucy was just a $1,000 purchase as a yearling.

 

“She’s a real honest filly,” said Morgan. “It’s great to see a Cinderella story like her work out.”

 

Donato Poliseno’s Collect the Brass ($26, David Miller) overcame post seven and took full advantage of a two-hole trip for a 1:58.4 victory in the DSBF final for trotting colts. Special Command was second with Bakermill Blake third.

 

“I remembered him from the Dexter Cup,” said Miller, who drove the CR Commando colt in the stake event at Freehold. “He’s matured a bit since then and everything worked out great today.”

 

Richards Stable, Donna Sullivan and Judy Leonard’s Ray’s Big Bubba ($5.80, Wolfenden) triumphed in the final stake event of the day with a 1:53.1 win from post seven, one of five winners from that starting slot Thursday. Trained by Scott Gregoire, the Badlands Hanover-sired ‘Bubba’ was forced three-wide early approaching the half-mile but was able to collar pacesetter Zee Barber approaching three-quarters and drew clear by two lengths on the wire. Zee Barber held second, while Game Day was third.

 

In other events for older horses, Victor Kirby and Matthew Ivory’s Allmar Surprise ($12.60, Victor Kirby) stole the show with a 1:56.3 win in the $30,000 Charles D. Murphy Jr. Memorial Trot, setting a new track record for 4-year-old trotting mares. The Angus Hall mare set all the fractions in her one-length win over Go Nano Go and Looking Hanover.

 

In the $30,000 Legislator’s Cup for aged mares, Joyce and Kathleen Keeler, and Linda Keeler’s Ladyfield ($3, Anthony Morgan) prevailed with a 1:53.4 win for trainer Victor Keeler II. It was Ladyfield’s sixth of the year as she sat a two hole trip and paced by pacesetter Ball Gown A, who held second, while Ireneonthemove closed for third.

 

In the $20,000 President’s Cup for aged male pacers, The Wiz Kids Stable’s Tarver Hanover ($5.80, Corey Callahan) earned a 1:52.3 victory.

 

Drivers Morgan and Wolfenden each won three races on the program. Kirby registered a driving double. (Harrington)