A trio of 1st leg $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings headlined the Monday program at Harrington Raceway.
The top 8 point earners from two rounds of eliminations will return to compete in the $110,000 final on October 12.
Forrest Bartlett’s Hawaiian Warfare ($2.10, Mike Cole) continued a promising start to his young career with his 5th win in 6 career starts, holding off a charge from Blue Jay’s Watchin for the win in 1:55.4. Dm’s Delight was third. Trained by Erin Nielson, the US Captain gelding will bid for his 5th straight win next week in the 2nd leg.
Earl’s Watching ($14.80, Brandon Givens) won the next division for owner Donna Messick, and trainer Les Givens in 1:57.4. The Highalator gelding picked up his first career win off a pocket trip over He’s Soaring and Crown Apple Beach. Jo Ann Looney-King’s Bootcamp Baby ($4.60, Allan Davis) won the final division in 1:56 for trainer Jim King Jr. The He’s Watching gelding was a front-end victor over Aeneas and Beachalator. It was his 2nd career triumph.
In the $18,000 Open II, Legacy Racing of Delaware and Reggie Hazzard’s Armada Hanover ($4.20, Brandon Givens) was a 1:53 winner for trainer Wayne Givens. It was one of 5 wins on the card for driver Givens.
Penelope Morgan and Dan Munson’s Ridin The Waves ($6, Tony Morgan) won his 7th straight race for trainer/co-owner Munson in 1:54.2 in a $25,000 claiming event.