Governor's Day set for Thursday evening
With the Meadowlands Pace card and the Hambletonian Day card at the Meadowlands taking center stage this summer, harness racing enthusiasts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region typically look forward to the upcoming, lucrative Governor's Day card this Thursday evening at Harrington Raceway in Delaware.
Thursday's Governor's Day card will not only offer 11 competitive events for Delaware-owned trotters and pacers, it will take place in front of a healthy, enthusiastic crowd. Until recently the Governor's Day card was crammed into a small window beginning at 11 am on the fourth Thursday in July, but now it has found its home as an evening card to allow racegoers a chance to view the program amid cooler climes.
Thursday's opening race is the first of four, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals and this one is slated for the three-year-old filly pacers. Gracefullyforgiven (Art Staffrd, Jr.), who won the $100K final last fall at Harrington, drew the coveted rail for owner-trainer Jeff Clark, while Jamie's Renegade (Russell Foster) has won all four of her starts this year. Ibetyoucanwiggle (Montrell Teague) will start from post three, with Peak Of Chic (Jeff Fout) alongside her and likely favorite Go Sandy Go (Eric Goodell) seeking to overcome post seven.
One race later local bragging rights among aged pacers will be on the line in the $40,000 Governor's Cup where Blazing Bobby Sox (Stafford), the top overnight horse during the spring meet, will leave from post five. Silver Fox J (Mike Cole) drew the rail, with Ain't It Fun and Special T Rocks just outside of him. Options Are Adream (Ross Wolfenden), winner of the $11,000 Open Handicap in his previous outing for owner David Banks of Rookery fame, will have to overcome post seven to prevail.
The remaining three $100K DSBF finals are slated as races five, seven and ten on the card. In the fifth, Star Sapphire and Deja Vu Blue will battle for supremacy in the 3YOFT final, while the seventh for 3YOCT looks wide open.
Thursday's 10th race is the $100K final for three-year-old colt pacers and that race will be well worth the wait. Slick Tony (Foster) will seek to complete a sweep of the four finals when he leaves from the coveted rail for owner-trainer-breeder George "Ronnie" Leager of Sudlersville. Just outside him is Evolution Tour (Tim Tetrick), a perennial bridesmaid in these events for trainer Jim King, Jr., while Transitioning Joy (Teague) will seek to play the spoiler role from post seven.
Thursday's Governor's Day card will not only offer 11 competitive events for Delaware-owned trotters and pacers, it will take place in front of a healthy, enthusiastic crowd. Until recently the Governor's Day card was crammed into a small window beginning at 11 am on the fourth Thursday in July, but now it has found its home as an evening card to allow racegoers a chance to view the program amid cooler climes.
Thursday's opening race is the first of four, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals and this one is slated for the three-year-old filly pacers. Gracefullyforgiven (Art Staffrd, Jr.), who won the $100K final last fall at Harrington, drew the coveted rail for owner-trainer Jeff Clark, while Jamie's Renegade (Russell Foster) has won all four of her starts this year. Ibetyoucanwiggle (Montrell Teague) will start from post three, with Peak Of Chic (Jeff Fout) alongside her and likely favorite Go Sandy Go (Eric Goodell) seeking to overcome post seven.
One race later local bragging rights among aged pacers will be on the line in the $40,000 Governor's Cup where Blazing Bobby Sox (Stafford), the top overnight horse during the spring meet, will leave from post five. Silver Fox J (Mike Cole) drew the rail, with Ain't It Fun and Special T Rocks just outside of him. Options Are Adream (Ross Wolfenden), winner of the $11,000 Open Handicap in his previous outing for owner David Banks of Rookery fame, will have to overcome post seven to prevail.
The remaining three $100K DSBF finals are slated as races five, seven and ten on the card. In the fifth, Star Sapphire and Deja Vu Blue will battle for supremacy in the 3YOFT final, while the seventh for 3YOCT looks wide open.
Thursday's 10th race is the $100K final for three-year-old colt pacers and that race will be well worth the wait. Slick Tony (Foster) will seek to complete a sweep of the four finals when he leaves from the coveted rail for owner-trainer-breeder George "Ronnie" Leager of Sudlersville. Just outside him is Evolution Tour (Tim Tetrick), a perennial bridesmaid in these events for trainer Jim King, Jr., while Transitioning Joy (Teague) will seek to play the spoiler role from post seven.
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