Harrington: Delaware Breeders Fund breathes life into local economy

Trainer Jim King Jr. may be competing regularly on the Grand Circuit these days with 2019 Horse of the year Shartin N, but along with many other regulars on the Delaware circuit, his bread and butter in terms of making a living has been the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund. On Wednesday at Harrington, the series for Delaware-breds will offer four $100,000 finals for 2-year-olds providing locals a chance to make their year.

"Not many of them are for sale. Winbak sells a few, but most are homebreds," said King on the horses that regularly compete in the Delaware championships. "Unfortunately the quality of these horses is a little short, but these are races that serve the community well."

According to King, Delaware offers two $20,000 legs and a $100,000 final twice a year for 2- and 3-year-olds. With that, a top Delaware-bred can come away with $280,000 in purse money after two years of racing and certainly put a smile on the faces (under the facemask) of the owners, trainers, drivers and breeders, who often wear more than one of those hats on these Delaware horses.

In fact, five of the eight finalists in the first race have common ownership between owner and trainer. Six more horses in the opener have a shared relationship between the breeder and owner. On top of that, almost all of the connections live or compete regularly in Delaware.

King sends out three on Wednesday with the first being Jazzy Judy, a Winbak Farm-bred filly trotter owned by Anthony MacDonald's Thestable Jazzy Judy. "She arrived just before we started, so I really didn't have the chance to spend any time with her before post time," said King of his race three starter. "I think she has a fair shot. She has as much talent as the rest of them. She made a gate break last time but we are hoping that is all worked out."

King's other pair are pacers bred by his wife Jo Ann Looney-King. Stealing Bases is a daughter of Roddy's Bags Again that is listed as the 9-5 morning-line in the fifth race, having won both of her elimination races easily. "She's a first foal from a mare that we raced," said King. "She should be first or second best, and I hope it's first-best. She feels like one to me that is going to get better as we going along and even after the stakes are over, she could be very useful."

In the sixth race final for pacing colts and gelding, King sends out longshot Syndergaard from the dreaded eight-hole over the half-mile track at Harrington. "His mother was a really nice mare for us and unfortunately she died this past year right after she foaled. She produced us several stakes winners and was one of the top campaigners around here when we did race her," said King. "We'll get him started and hopefully we'll get lucky from that post. You need luck from that spot."

Delaware regular Victor Kirby will drive each of King's three finalists. The trainer also reported that the previously mentioned Shartin N, second in the October 3 Dayton Distaff Derby, will make her next appearance in the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park (eliminations October 24, final on October 31).

The one final on the card without a King trainee is the rookie colt and gelding trot (race 1). Rhett (7-5) and Big Al M (8-5) are both coming off wins of at least six lengths and share favoritism.

Harrington's 12-race program on Wednesday begins at 4:30 PM and also offers four $15,000 consolation events for horses that did not qualify for the finals.