Harrington: DSBF finals, Governor's Cup headline richest program of 2023

More than $600,000 in total purses were up for grabs on the annual Governor's Day program during the Delaware State Fair at Harrington Raceway on Thursday.

Racing fans weathered one of the warmest days of the summer on day eight of the Delaware State Fair with a 12-race program, comprised of four $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) final events for 3-year-olds, in addition to several customary races for older horses, highlighted by the $50,000 Governor's Cup (aged pacers).

The first DSBF final on the card saw Gty Stable's Gaitway Guy ($15.60, Corey Callahan) surge off a three-wide move to a 1:53 3/5 triumph in the male pacing final over Night Terror and Bad Boy Too. The Delmarvalous gelding notched his 10th win in 13 career starts for trainer Jeff Smith.

Jeff Clark's She Is Strong ($2.40, Tim Tetrick) won her fourth straight with a 1:58 2/5 triumph in the filly trotting final over Lilmisswontbewrong and Gold Rate. The Art Stafford Jr. trainee pressured tiring leader Miss Daburg near three-quarters and drew away from the field to a seven length score. The Anders Bluestone filly scored her ninth career win.

In the pacing filly final, Stephen Messick's Misty Coast ($5, Art Stafford Jr.) was a 1:55 2/5 winner over Direct Mist and Kims Secret Search. The Powerful Mist filly cruised on the front-end to a three length score after contenders Hold My Wine and Killer Stripes made breaks near the start. Trained by Les Givens, it was the 10th win of her career in 16 starts.

George Teague, David Collins and Lakiya Teachey's Kodack Black ($2.10, Montrell Teague) was a dominant 1:58 2/5 winner in the male trotting final over Perfect Twenty and Hespookshescores. The Kodak Lindy gelding used a successful first-over brush to the lead and was a five length winner for trainer Clyde Francis and notched his ninth career win.

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In the $50,000 Governor's Cup, Harrington's defending leading driver Allan Davis scored his first Governor's Cup win with Elizabeth and Bret Brittingham's Itsrockandroll A ($12.80) over Heinikinbythebay and Major Betts in 1:53. Trained by Don Brittingham, the 8-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding recorded his third straight victory with an aggressive effort from post eight, and he emerged from the pocket to grab his 25th lifetime win. Delaware Governor John Carney presented the trophy to the winning connections.

On the undercard, George and Tina Dennis' Feeling Sweet ($3.40, Pat Berry) was a 1:53 4/5 winner in the $30,000 Legislator's Cup.

Garber Stables and Dan and Pam Garber's Outclassed ($6.60, Tim Tetrick) won the $25,000 President's Cup in 1:54 4/5. The top conditioned trot went to Legacy Racing, Reggie Hazzard and Gary Calloway's Manatlas ($24.40, Trae Porter), who was a 1:56 1/5 winner in the $35,000 Charles Murphy Jr. Memorial Trot.

Live racing will resume at Harrington on August 14.

--press release (Harrington)--