Forrest Bartlett’s Hawaiian Warfare ($6.40, Mike Cole) was a 1:56.1 winner in the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings Monday at Harrington Raceway.
The Erin Neilson-trainee has won 7 straight races, and is 7-of-8 in his freshman season. The US Captain gelding was forced 3-wide around stalled cover past the half mile mark and made steady gains before surging through the stretch to nab the victory under confident Cole handling. Long shot See Jack Run charged down the passing lane to grab the place spot with Aeneas third.
In the $22,500 Open, the same connections teamed up for a 1:51.4 victory with Primo Maschio ($3, Montrell Teague) to give Bartlett and Neilson a double. The Badlands Hanover gelding set the fractions from post two and never stepped off the gas in an impressive score, his 4th of the year and 23rd lifetime. Mr. Three O Five was second with The Dragon Reborn third.
Earlier on the card, Donna Messick’s Dm’s Delight ($47.40, Brandon Givens) won the $20,000 DSBF 2-year-old colt and gelding consolation in 1:58.1. The Highalator gelding scored his first career triumph for trainer Les Givens.
It was one of 3 driving wins on the card for the meet’s leading driver, Brandon Givens.
Long shot Sting Ray ($131, Troy Beyer) blew up the tote board with an upset score at odds of 64-to-1 in the 12th race for owner/trainer Virginia Louthan. The 4-year-old Papa Ray gelding utilized a strong kick in the late stages of the race to capture his 4th career win and first of the season.
The DSBF finals continue to headline the October 12-14 week of racing at Harrington, with the filly pacing final on tap for Tuesday (October 13) and trotting finals scheduled for Wednesday (October 14). Post time is 4:30 p.m.