Harrington, DE – Richard Ashley and Michael Cain’s Steven’s Saloon ($13.80, Jason Thompson) was a 1:52.1 winner in the $18,000 Open Pace Monday (Sept. 22) at Harrington Raceway.
Master Rigger fired from post one and set a brisk pace early with fractions of :27.1, {54.4 and 1:23.1 while Steven’s Saloon gathered momentum and surged on the far outside in the stretch to hit the wire first, holding off Itsrockandroll A and Wehadababyetzaboy in a blanket finish where five horses were in close proximity at the wire. Steven’s Saloon recorded his ninth win of the season for trainer Joe Hundertpfund Jr. The 4-year-old Always B Miki gelding surpassed $100,000 in seasonal earnings with the win.
On the undercard, Mike Casalino Jr.’s Spicey Major A ($5.40, Corey Callahan) was a 1:52.3 winner in a $14,500 winners-over pace over Effingham and Cerulean Hanover. It was the eighth win of the year for the 6-year-old Art Major gelding, trained by Dylan Davis.
Jo Ann Looney-King’s Slugger On Deck ($2.20, Allan Davis) recorded his third straight win for trainer Jim King Jr. The 2-year-old He’s Watching colt was an easy 1:55.1 winner in his final prep for Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes action on September 29.
Art Stafford Jr. and Allan Davis each had a driving triple.
Racing will continue on a Monday through Wednesday schedule (post time 4:30 p.m.)