Indianapolis, IN – Round seven in the Indiana fair circuit’s “Quest for the Governor’s Cup” moves north with two programs Saturday (July 9). The Noble County Community Fair in Kendallville, IN, will host 15 races with a 10 a.m. first post. The Newton County Pun’kin Vine Fair in Kentland, IN will offer five races Saturday, with a noon CDT start time.

Horses line up behind the starting gate at Kendallville. Dean Gillette Photo.

Entries for the Kendallville card include nine horses that recently picked up victories at Frankfort on July 4 and 5. Sophomore trotting fillies Crescent Beauty and Walk With Me, both from the Doug Rideout barn, lead five horse fields in races 13 and 14. Each was a comfortable winner earlier in the week at the Clinton County Fair. Cash In The Bank, top among 2-year-old trotting fillies in points, will attempt to add her fourth seasonal win. The Dover Dan freshman has finished first or second in five outings this year for Rideout.

Prince Henry, currently ranked third in the freshman trotting colt division, looks to annex a fourth win in five starts for trainer Leander Schwartz. The gelding lines up in post four in the day’s ninth race. Schwartz also sent out first time winner Go Go Jackie Jo at Frankfort. The Luck Be Withyou freshman dominated her last time out, winning by nearly 14 lengths in a time of 2:05.2. She lines up in post five in Saturday’s third contest for driver Michael Detweiler.

Tucky Girl, trained by Mervin Schmucker, will attempt to stay undefeated and collect her fifth seasonal win after a one-week break from the circuit. The Pinetucky filly ranks second in the divisional standings, a single point behind leader Cash In The Bank. Jordan Ross will pilot the trotter from the outside post in race six.

The Kentland program consists of one $3,500 division for pacers and a quartet for trotters. Lil Joe Iv, currently ranked second among 2-year-old colt pacers, leads a field of five in the day’s first race. The son of Luck Be Withyou is trained by Terry Haimes. Help Dust and Hand Dover Dan lead the trotters that will go postward Saturday. Freshman trotting colt Help Dust captured his second seasonal win July 4 at Frankfort. Rideout guided the Helpisontheway gelding to a victorious gate-to-wire effort in 2:10. Hand Dover Dan, second in the standings for sophomore trotting colts, starts outside in post five in the final event of the day. The son of Dover Dan claimed a seven-length victory Tuesday at Frankfort.

With seven victories this week at Frankfort, Rideout has steered 36 winners on the fair circuit to date.  He leads Jordan Ross (23) and Jay Cross (10) as the top fair drivers. As a trainer, Rideout has accumulated 37 winners to lead the standings. Mervin Schmucker ranks second with 15 victories, while Leander Schwartz and Alvin Miller each have eight wins to their credit.

Listed below are the top eight point earners in each division, including ties, at the halfway point of the Quest. Points are tabulated by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Horses earn a point for each start made on the fair circuit, with race winners awarded 50 points. A second-place finish merits 25 points, a third-place effort yields 12 points, eight points are awarded for fourth place and five points for fifth place. The top eight point earners in each division that have also made the prerequisite seven fair starts will compete in the $25,000 Governor’s Cup Championships to be held August 11 at the Indiana State Fair.

Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Check In Process 239; Kruisin Kristen 230; Here We Go BB 217; Swartz Bros Elen 163; Tell Me Lies 151; Go Go Jackie Jo 148; Virgins Big Money 140; Live Your Life 129

Two-Year-Old Colt Pace
M-M’s Tony 192; Lil Joe Iv 180; Master Splinter 179; Isitlikeittell 151; Vel Big Bruiser 129; Little Fighter 118; Mercy Rock 105; Glawbanera 102

Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Cash In The Bank 205; Tucky Girl 204; If Not For You 188; Youknowyoudid, Sure Do 154; Edge Of Rejoicing 135; Swartz Bros Donna 129; Unforgettable 109

Two-Year-Old Colt Trot
Mr Knowitall 255; Help Dust 193; Prince Henry 185; Reckless Reviver 179; Starlit Swan Song 134; A Majorsmackin 129; Braxton 104; Golden Prince 92

Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Babe’s Darla 217; Vel Goodgolly Molly 122; Zig Zag Zoom 117; Velstraightdreamer, Mystical Image 112; Al Perfection 96; Swartz Bros Jane 70; Marla’s Got Legs, Party Shaker, Lady Angel 51

Three-Year-Old Colt Pace
Virgins Beach Boy 167; Vel Bitter Chip 131; Vel Larry 121; Riggins Revenge 116; Vel Wemiss U Dean 104; Always-A-Laser 102; Luckychris 77; Family Four Ever 56

Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Crescent Beauty 281; Walk With Me 230; Fashion’s Way 154; Swan’s Lady 84; Double A Samantha 78; First N Line 75; ABC Tucky 65; Massive Stride 51

Three-Year-Old Colt Trot
Lonestar Fashion 256; Hand Dover Dan 205; Swartz Bros Sam 117; Molly’s Jail 112; Summit City Sonny 86; Vel Jail Bondsman 75; Fly Like A Plane 54; V-Keys Striper 50

Racing fans are encouraged to follow along and participate this season using #Quest4GovCup on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Quest for the Governor’s Cup Locations and Dates
Complete – Round 1: Converse, Ind. – June 1 & 2
Complete – Round 2: Converse, Ind. – June 8 & 9
Complete – Round 3: Corydon, Ind. – June 16 & 17
Complete – Round 4: Converse, Ind. – June 21 & 22
Complete – Round 5: Frankfort, Ind. – June 27 & 28
Complete – Round 6: Frankfort, Ind. – July 4 & 5
Round 7: Kendallville, Ind. and Kentland, Ind. – July 9
Round 8: Portland, Ind. – July 13
Round 9: Shelbyville, Ind. – July 18 & 19
Round 10: Goshen, Ind. – July 23, 25 & 26
Round 11: Connersville, Ind. – August 1 & 2
Round 12: Portland, Ind. – August 6
Governor’s Cup Championships: Indianapolis, Ind. – August 11

Indiana fair races will be available via livestream this season through a partnership between the Indiana Standardbred Association and Indiana Standardbred Breed Development. Fans can watch fair racing by visiting the ISA website, indianaharness.com, on race days. Races will be archived on the website.

For a complete and printable list of all Indiana harness racing dates for 2022, visit https://www.in.gov/hrc/sb/files/race_dates_locations_update.pdf.  If you have questions about the Indiana fair racing program, contact the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at 317-233-3119 or email INhorseracing@hrc.in.gov.