Harrington: Russell Foster dominates on Governor's Cup card

Harrington Raceway’s richest program of the season, the annual Governor’s Day program at the Delaware State Fair, was contested Thursday, highlighted by four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals for 3-year-olds, three of which were won by driver Russell Foster.

The day showcased many of Delaware’s top horses as every horse on the program was either fully Delaware owned or bred.

In the Governor’s Cup, Arthur Stafford and Arthur Stafford Jr’s Blazing Bobby Sox ($2.60, Stafford Jr.) was a 1:50 1/5 winner over Options Are A Dream and Silver Fox J. Driven by his trainer, the 7-year-old Panderosa gelding was a decisive front end winner to boost his seasonal earnings in excess of $100,000.

Governor John Carney was on hand and presented the trophy to the winning connections.

The first DSBF final was for filly pacers as Deborah and Jamie Bozman’s Jamie’s Renegade ($2.20, Foster) scored a 1:53 1/5 win over Go Sandy Go and Gracefully Forgiven. The Pacific Renegade filly remained unbeaten as a 3-year-old in five starts and started the Foster hat trick of DSBF finals.

Foster doubled up in the filly trotting final with Shirley Shand and Serendipity Stable’s Star Sapphire ($5.60) with a 2:01 4/5 win over Vandalous and Press Pass. Race favorite Déjà Vu Blue made a break near the start and finished fourth. Trained by Tui Stone, Star Sapphire notched her seventh career win. The Anders Bluestone filly has now banked more than $230,000 in her career.

Foster notched a triple in the pacing colt final aboard favorite Slick Tony ($2.60), who cruised to an easy win over Evolution Tour and America First. Owned and trained by George Leager, the No Spin Zone-sired colt led wire-to-wire in achieving his 15th career win in 19 starts.

In the only DSBF final event not won by Foster, favorite Super Fly ($2.40, Stafford Jr.) overcame post seven to win in 1:57 2/5 over Seafood Suzie Blue and Brother Kenny. Owned by Leigh Raymer, Stephen Moss and Stacy Johnson-Stafford, Super Fly has dominated DSBF rivals and recorded his 9th win in 16 lifetime starts. The Super Punk gelding was trained by his driver.

On the undercard, Tate Lewis’ Mr. Right ($3.20, Allan Davis) won the $30,000 Charles Murphy Memorial in 1:55 3/5. Kdk Standardbreds’ Apple Bottom Jeans ($2.20, Tim Tetrick) captured the $30,000 Legislator’s Cup in 1:51 2/5. Louis Tomczak Jr.’s Proper One ($6.40, Cody Poliseno) won the $20,000 President’s Cup in 1:52 3/5. Wade Wyatt and Francis Di Mondi Jr’s Common Parlance ($2.80, Sean Bier) captured a $10,000 conditioned trot in 1:56 and Nanticoke Racing, Josh Parker and Donna Messick’s Spondulicks N ($3.40, Stafford Jr.) was victorious in a $10,000 conditioned pace in 1:55 1/5. William Moffett’s Lydia ($5.60, Ross Wolfenden) won a $15,000 DSBF filly pacing consolation in 1:59 3/5.

-edited release (Matt Sparacino for Harrington)