Harrington offers Governor's Day card
One week after a heat wave impacted numerous outdoor activity, Harrington Raceway in Delaware hosted its annual, lucrative $600,000 Governor's Day card highlighted by a quartet of $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for three-year-olds of both gaits and genders on a night when far more temperate climates arrived and a cameo appearance from Governor John Carney.
In the opening race on the card, the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old filly pacers, In And Out Again (Tim Tetrick) overcame post eight to live up to her role as the even-money favorite to carve out all the fractions, including a genuine second-quarter breather, and held safe a first over bid from stablemate Biggiescondshot (Ross Wolfenden) to score by two lengths in 1:55.3.
A sophomore daughter of Roddy's Bags Again owned and trained by Jason Skinner, In And Out Again completed a clear sweep of the DSBF finals at Dover Downs and Harrington and now owns a 7-2-2 slate and $155,000 banked from 16 starts this year. In And Out Again capped a perfect outing for Skinner, whose only two entries finished one-two in the opener.
"I was able to make the front without much trouble and got a soft pace to the half," said Tetrick, who is among the 2019 Hall of Fame finalists at the ripe age of 37. "She was right on the gate, made the front pretty easy and then the stablemate come to us down the backside so I didn't want to rough her up. Then my filly had plenty in the lane. I really haven't given much thought to the Hall of Fame. I hope my numbers speak for themselves."
Then two races later in the $40,000 Governor's Cup for older pacers, Sicily (Victor Kirby) lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he gained command easily from post two, got a breather by the half in 57.1, met token pressure by three-quarters in 1:25.1 then outlasted the late bid of the pocket-sitting Late Mail N (Jonathan Roberts) to score by a length in 1:52.2.
A seven-year-old Art Major gelding trained by Wayne Givens, Sicily recorded his second straight victory and third win in his last four starts and now owns a 4-8-3 and banked nearly $93,000 from 21 seasonal outings. Sicily now owns a commendable 27-25-21 slate and $570,000 banked from 129 career tries. His latest performance hardly surprised his reinsman.
"He's got so much speed and the other guys have to respect him," Kirby said. "He made the front easily and I got a little breather to the half. Jonathan's horse was right on my helmet the whole trip, but I thought I had enough to hold him off in the lane."
Then two races later in the $20,000 President's Cup, Little Ben (Tetrick) benefited from a pocket trip behind Proper One (Corey Callahan) through the first three calls, angled to the passing lane and edged past the leader in the lane for a length score in 1:52. An eight-year-old Jereme's Jet gelding trained by Jim King, Jr. of Shartin N fame, Little Ben now owns a 5-2-4 slate and $64,000 banked from 21 seasonal outings and posted his 39th win from 152 career outings and pushed his bankroll toward $500,000.
Then one race later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old filly trotters, Disco Soliel (Rodney Allen) benefited from a ground saving journey through the first three calls, angled out midway on the far turn and rallied widest of all to edge 3-5 favorite Dark Dutchess and 36-1 outsider Miss Popeye for a neck victory in 1:59.1. A sophomore daughter of CR Commando out of the Lindy Lane mare Penny Lane, Disco Soliel notched her second straight tally, fifth win in six starts this year and ninth win in 12 career tries.
Two races later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old colt pacers, Chillaxin Away (tetrick) benefited from a pocket trip behind Goldberg (Montrell Teague) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket late far turn and outlasted the late bids of Haymitch (Callahan) and Aintnosunshine (Wolfenden) to score by a length in 1:53.2. A sophomore son of Roddy's Bags Again trained by King, ChillaxinAway notched his fifth win from 10 starts this year and now owns 10 wins in 20 lifetime tries.
Then one race later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old colt trotters, Embrace The Grind (Jonathan Roberts) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he brushed to command before the opener, got a breather by the half in 1:01, raced unpressed by three-quarters and cruised home two lengths clear in 2:00. A sophomore son of Keystone Activator trained by Bobby Glassmeyer, Embrace The Grind notched his third straight win and now owns six wins in eight starts this year and 11 wins from 14 career tries.
In the opening race on the card, the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old filly pacers, In And Out Again (Tim Tetrick) overcame post eight to live up to her role as the even-money favorite to carve out all the fractions, including a genuine second-quarter breather, and held safe a first over bid from stablemate Biggiescondshot (Ross Wolfenden) to score by two lengths in 1:55.3.
A sophomore daughter of Roddy's Bags Again owned and trained by Jason Skinner, In And Out Again completed a clear sweep of the DSBF finals at Dover Downs and Harrington and now owns a 7-2-2 slate and $155,000 banked from 16 starts this year. In And Out Again capped a perfect outing for Skinner, whose only two entries finished one-two in the opener.
"I was able to make the front without much trouble and got a soft pace to the half," said Tetrick, who is among the 2019 Hall of Fame finalists at the ripe age of 37. "She was right on the gate, made the front pretty easy and then the stablemate come to us down the backside so I didn't want to rough her up. Then my filly had plenty in the lane. I really haven't given much thought to the Hall of Fame. I hope my numbers speak for themselves."
Then two races later in the $40,000 Governor's Cup for older pacers, Sicily (Victor Kirby) lived up to his role as the 4-5 favorite when he gained command easily from post two, got a breather by the half in 57.1, met token pressure by three-quarters in 1:25.1 then outlasted the late bid of the pocket-sitting Late Mail N (Jonathan Roberts) to score by a length in 1:52.2.
A seven-year-old Art Major gelding trained by Wayne Givens, Sicily recorded his second straight victory and third win in his last four starts and now owns a 4-8-3 and banked nearly $93,000 from 21 seasonal outings. Sicily now owns a commendable 27-25-21 slate and $570,000 banked from 129 career tries. His latest performance hardly surprised his reinsman.
"He's got so much speed and the other guys have to respect him," Kirby said. "He made the front easily and I got a little breather to the half. Jonathan's horse was right on my helmet the whole trip, but I thought I had enough to hold him off in the lane."
Then two races later in the $20,000 President's Cup, Little Ben (Tetrick) benefited from a pocket trip behind Proper One (Corey Callahan) through the first three calls, angled to the passing lane and edged past the leader in the lane for a length score in 1:52. An eight-year-old Jereme's Jet gelding trained by Jim King, Jr. of Shartin N fame, Little Ben now owns a 5-2-4 slate and $64,000 banked from 21 seasonal outings and posted his 39th win from 152 career outings and pushed his bankroll toward $500,000.
Then one race later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old filly trotters, Disco Soliel (Rodney Allen) benefited from a ground saving journey through the first three calls, angled out midway on the far turn and rallied widest of all to edge 3-5 favorite Dark Dutchess and 36-1 outsider Miss Popeye for a neck victory in 1:59.1. A sophomore daughter of CR Commando out of the Lindy Lane mare Penny Lane, Disco Soliel notched her second straight tally, fifth win in six starts this year and ninth win in 12 career tries.
Two races later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old colt pacers, Chillaxin Away (tetrick) benefited from a pocket trip behind Goldberg (Montrell Teague) through the first three calls, angled out of the pocket late far turn and outlasted the late bids of Haymitch (Callahan) and Aintnosunshine (Wolfenden) to score by a length in 1:53.2. A sophomore son of Roddy's Bags Again trained by King, ChillaxinAway notched his fifth win from 10 starts this year and now owns 10 wins in 20 lifetime tries.
Then one race later in the $100,000 DSBF final for three-year-old colt trotters, Embrace The Grind (Jonathan Roberts) easily lived up to his role as the 1-9 favorite when he brushed to command before the opener, got a breather by the half in 1:01, raced unpressed by three-quarters and cruised home two lengths clear in 2:00. A sophomore son of Keystone Activator trained by Bobby Glassmeyer, Embrace The Grind notched his third straight win and now owns six wins in eight starts this year and 11 wins from 14 career tries.
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