Harrington hosts two-year-old stakes
While many harness tracks put their stakes races or top overnight events on the weekends, Harrington Raceway, which does not offer live racing on Saturday or Sunday nights in the spring or fall, will present its best card on Wednesday evening on the penultimate night of its current fall meet.
Each summer Harrington is the site of the lucrative Governor's Day card that features four, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for three-year-olds of both gaits and genders. But this Wednesday evening the half-mile oval will highlight the best two-year-olds of both gaits and genders on a Delaware Showcase card primarily for the freshmen.
Wednesday's third race is the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old filly pacers and there are six solid prospects among the eight finalists. Railbound Seeboomook Up-Town (Allan Davis) will be the odds-on choice, but she will get plenty of competition from Apple Bottom Jeans (Montrell Teague), Cougar Creek (Victor Kirby), Eternal Ring (Jonathan Roberts) and Fiftyshadesofrusty (Corey Callahan).
Seeboomook Up-Town has won all four of her starts for trainer Wayne Givens and owner-breeder Garnet O'Marrow, including her two DSBF elims in 1:56.3 and 1:59.1, respectively, as the prohibitive favorite each start. Drawing the rail will certainly not hinder her chances in the final and Seeboomook Up-Town is likely going to dip below even-money at post time.
But those looking to beat the Tune Town filly will have several logical options. Cougar Creek posted a 7-1 upset in her second DSBF elim for trainer Jim King, Jr. and the Dream Away filly drew post two for the final and should be in an ideal striking position throughout.
Apple Bottom Jeans, a daughter of Mr Apples out of a mare by The Panderosa, won her opening DSBF prelim as the 3-5 favorite before being upended by Cougar Creek last week while leaving as the 1-9 choice. Eternal Ring won her opening leg as the 1-9 choice in 1:58, then was third behind Cougar Creek and Apple Bottom Jeans last week, while Fiftyshadesofrusty was second to Seeboomook Up-Town in the opener before rebounding to win round two.
One race later in the $20,000 Open, a race that normally highlights the Monday card, at least a handful of pacers could prevail in this contentious affair.
Remember Me VK (Teague) draws the rail and arrives off a sharp , four-length score in 1:52.3 in the Open II two weeks ago. Shiretown Pit Bull (Sean Bier) has been second in each of his last two tries against Open company after winning a pair of events versus conditioned foes. Bad Boy Matt (Allan Davis) rallied to finish third last week in the Open after winning the Open II two starts back. Special T Rocks (George Dennis) returned from Yonkers to win the Open Handicap last week in first over fashion and will start from post five, just inside of local stalwart Just A Jolt (Kirby) who was the beaten favorite in the Open last week from his assigned outside post. He tried the Quillen two starts back and repeated in the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day in late July and merits respect despite leaving from post six.
One race later on the card the juvenile boys will be on display in the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old colt & gelding pacers. Much like the very wide open filly event two races earlier, this affair looks to have several potential winners.
Rusty Carter (Callahan) overcame a first over trip last week to capture the second DSBF elim and draws the rail for the final. Canthelpbutwin (Kirby) benefited from a pocket trip in the slop last week to win his elim after finishing second the week before. Hail To The Master (Art Stafford, Jr.) was an impressive winner in the opening round two weeks ago at 1-2 then settled for third last week as the 1-5 choice, but has every right to rebound in the final at a decent price. All Artist (George Dennis) won his opening round event in 1:56.4 as the even-money choice before settling for second to Rusty Carter last week. Cut The Beach (Jim Morand) has been second in each of his two elims, but gets posts seven here while Sizz Matty (Davis) has won both of his elims but drew the dreaded eight hole for the final.
One race later Harrington will offer the $20,000 Open Handicap for trotters, which is typically the feature on the Wednesday card. Much like the Open pace, the trot looks contentious.
Spunky Jack (Roger Plante, Jr.) won this event two starts back and draws the rail and will be forwardly placed throughout. I'm So Striking (Eddie Dennis) won a Governor's Day conditioned event for trotters for a second straight year and always merits respect in any event at this oval. Prayer Session (Callahan) won the Governor's Day feature for trotters and was a good second in the Open Hcp at Oak Ridge last weekend after winning two starts back at Harrah's Philadelphia in a tough conditioned event for trainer Trish Foulk.
Then one race later the track will offer the $20,000 Open Handicap for pacing fillies and mares, a normal feature on the Tuesday program but moved up a day to help underscore a tremendous card at the half-mile oval. Once again, any number of pacers could prevail in yet another contentious affair.
A La Notte Hanover (Davis) has been second in each of her last three starts against lesser, but merits respect from the rail. Missomebeach Blue (Jonathan Roberts) won her most recent start against conditioned foes at Harrah's Philadelphia despite a first over trip and certainly deserves a look here. BJ's Sweetheart (Tony Morgan) won this event two starts back and beat similar on Governor's Day here for trainer Jason Skinner and owner Susan Skinner. Embassy Seelster (Callahan) won this event four starts back for trainer Doug Lewis in first over fashion and merits respect upon her return to the oval. Purrfect Bags (Kirby) has been the dominant local three-year-old filly pacer and held her own against older here before and merits respect despite drawing post five, while Matinee Dragon (Art Stafford, Jr.) has won her last two for trainer Vincent Bradley and looms a threat despite drawing post six.
Then one race later on the card the juvenile trotters will be on display in the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Unlike the previous two finals, this appears to be a match race.
Chipoffthewall (Morgan) won his two DSBF elims by a combined seven lengths as the 1-9 favorite each time, posting consecutive scores of 2:03 and 2:00.3 and should be odds-on again from post three. Of course, even odds-on favorites in two-year-old colt trotting events are a risky proposition.
Drawing just to his inside is Elton J (Carlo Poliseno), a Dusty Winner gelding that has maintained a very busy schedule of late for owner-breeder Jane Dunavant. Elton J not only won his last DSBF elim after finishing second to Chipoffthewall in the opener, he also ventured to Oak Ridge and captured both his elim and final of the Virginia Breeders Championships the previous two Sundays. Mondello (Stafford) was second to Chipoffthewall in the second round of DSBF elims and could split the exacta.
Then two races later on the card, Harrington will offer the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old filly trotters, which also appears to be a virtual match race.
Much like Elton J, Cicada's Song (Wolfenden) has maintained a very busy schedule for trainer Carlo Poliseno and owner-breeder Dunavant. Cicada's Song not only won her two DSBF elims as the odds-on choice by a combined sum of 11 lengths, she also ventured to Oak Ridge the previous two Sundays and bested Virginia-bred foes there by a combined margin of 140 lengths!
Looking to upend Cicada's Song is Triple Bottom Line (Kirby) who won her opening DSBF elim by 16 lengths then finished second to the Poliseno trainee in her most recent outing. Triple Bottom Line drew post six for the final and will have to chase the unbeaten favorite throughout, but always remember anything can happen in races for two-year-old filly trotters.
Each summer Harrington is the site of the lucrative Governor's Day card that features four, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for three-year-olds of both gaits and genders. But this Wednesday evening the half-mile oval will highlight the best two-year-olds of both gaits and genders on a Delaware Showcase card primarily for the freshmen.
Wednesday's third race is the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old filly pacers and there are six solid prospects among the eight finalists. Railbound Seeboomook Up-Town (Allan Davis) will be the odds-on choice, but she will get plenty of competition from Apple Bottom Jeans (Montrell Teague), Cougar Creek (Victor Kirby), Eternal Ring (Jonathan Roberts) and Fiftyshadesofrusty (Corey Callahan).
Seeboomook Up-Town has won all four of her starts for trainer Wayne Givens and owner-breeder Garnet O'Marrow, including her two DSBF elims in 1:56.3 and 1:59.1, respectively, as the prohibitive favorite each start. Drawing the rail will certainly not hinder her chances in the final and Seeboomook Up-Town is likely going to dip below even-money at post time.
But those looking to beat the Tune Town filly will have several logical options. Cougar Creek posted a 7-1 upset in her second DSBF elim for trainer Jim King, Jr. and the Dream Away filly drew post two for the final and should be in an ideal striking position throughout.
Apple Bottom Jeans, a daughter of Mr Apples out of a mare by The Panderosa, won her opening DSBF prelim as the 3-5 favorite before being upended by Cougar Creek last week while leaving as the 1-9 choice. Eternal Ring won her opening leg as the 1-9 choice in 1:58, then was third behind Cougar Creek and Apple Bottom Jeans last week, while Fiftyshadesofrusty was second to Seeboomook Up-Town in the opener before rebounding to win round two.
One race later in the $20,000 Open, a race that normally highlights the Monday card, at least a handful of pacers could prevail in this contentious affair.
Remember Me VK (Teague) draws the rail and arrives off a sharp , four-length score in 1:52.3 in the Open II two weeks ago. Shiretown Pit Bull (Sean Bier) has been second in each of his last two tries against Open company after winning a pair of events versus conditioned foes. Bad Boy Matt (Allan Davis) rallied to finish third last week in the Open after winning the Open II two starts back. Special T Rocks (George Dennis) returned from Yonkers to win the Open Handicap last week in first over fashion and will start from post five, just inside of local stalwart Just A Jolt (Kirby) who was the beaten favorite in the Open last week from his assigned outside post. He tried the Quillen two starts back and repeated in the Governor's Cup here on Governor's Day in late July and merits respect despite leaving from post six.
One race later on the card the juvenile boys will be on display in the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old colt & gelding pacers. Much like the very wide open filly event two races earlier, this affair looks to have several potential winners.
Rusty Carter (Callahan) overcame a first over trip last week to capture the second DSBF elim and draws the rail for the final. Canthelpbutwin (Kirby) benefited from a pocket trip in the slop last week to win his elim after finishing second the week before. Hail To The Master (Art Stafford, Jr.) was an impressive winner in the opening round two weeks ago at 1-2 then settled for third last week as the 1-5 choice, but has every right to rebound in the final at a decent price. All Artist (George Dennis) won his opening round event in 1:56.4 as the even-money choice before settling for second to Rusty Carter last week. Cut The Beach (Jim Morand) has been second in each of his two elims, but gets posts seven here while Sizz Matty (Davis) has won both of his elims but drew the dreaded eight hole for the final.
One race later Harrington will offer the $20,000 Open Handicap for trotters, which is typically the feature on the Wednesday card. Much like the Open pace, the trot looks contentious.
Spunky Jack (Roger Plante, Jr.) won this event two starts back and draws the rail and will be forwardly placed throughout. I'm So Striking (Eddie Dennis) won a Governor's Day conditioned event for trotters for a second straight year and always merits respect in any event at this oval. Prayer Session (Callahan) won the Governor's Day feature for trotters and was a good second in the Open Hcp at Oak Ridge last weekend after winning two starts back at Harrah's Philadelphia in a tough conditioned event for trainer Trish Foulk.
Then one race later the track will offer the $20,000 Open Handicap for pacing fillies and mares, a normal feature on the Tuesday program but moved up a day to help underscore a tremendous card at the half-mile oval. Once again, any number of pacers could prevail in yet another contentious affair.
A La Notte Hanover (Davis) has been second in each of her last three starts against lesser, but merits respect from the rail. Missomebeach Blue (Jonathan Roberts) won her most recent start against conditioned foes at Harrah's Philadelphia despite a first over trip and certainly deserves a look here. BJ's Sweetheart (Tony Morgan) won this event two starts back and beat similar on Governor's Day here for trainer Jason Skinner and owner Susan Skinner. Embassy Seelster (Callahan) won this event four starts back for trainer Doug Lewis in first over fashion and merits respect upon her return to the oval. Purrfect Bags (Kirby) has been the dominant local three-year-old filly pacer and held her own against older here before and merits respect despite drawing post five, while Matinee Dragon (Art Stafford, Jr.) has won her last two for trainer Vincent Bradley and looms a threat despite drawing post six.
Then one race later on the card the juvenile trotters will be on display in the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Unlike the previous two finals, this appears to be a match race.
Chipoffthewall (Morgan) won his two DSBF elims by a combined seven lengths as the 1-9 favorite each time, posting consecutive scores of 2:03 and 2:00.3 and should be odds-on again from post three. Of course, even odds-on favorites in two-year-old colt trotting events are a risky proposition.
Drawing just to his inside is Elton J (Carlo Poliseno), a Dusty Winner gelding that has maintained a very busy schedule of late for owner-breeder Jane Dunavant. Elton J not only won his last DSBF elim after finishing second to Chipoffthewall in the opener, he also ventured to Oak Ridge and captured both his elim and final of the Virginia Breeders Championships the previous two Sundays. Mondello (Stafford) was second to Chipoffthewall in the second round of DSBF elims and could split the exacta.
Then two races later on the card, Harrington will offer the $100,000 DSBF final for two-year-old filly trotters, which also appears to be a virtual match race.
Much like Elton J, Cicada's Song (Wolfenden) has maintained a very busy schedule for trainer Carlo Poliseno and owner-breeder Dunavant. Cicada's Song not only won her two DSBF elims as the odds-on choice by a combined sum of 11 lengths, she also ventured to Oak Ridge the previous two Sundays and bested Virginia-bred foes there by a combined margin of 140 lengths!
Looking to upend Cicada's Song is Triple Bottom Line (Kirby) who won her opening DSBF elim by 16 lengths then finished second to the Poliseno trainee in her most recent outing. Triple Bottom Line drew post six for the final and will have to chase the unbeaten favorite throughout, but always remember anything can happen in races for two-year-old filly trotters.
ADVERTISEMENT
