Harrington, DE — Harrington Raceway’s richest program of the season will commence Thursday (July 27) during Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair. Post time is 7 p.m.

A 12-race program will await racing fans with purses exceeding $600,000 on the card, headlined by four $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) finals for 3-year-old horses and the $50,000 Governor’s Cup, a long-time staple on the program for the state’s top pacers ages 4 years old and up.

The DSBF races spotlight the First State’s top-bred horses while the remainder of the program showcases the top Delaware-owned horses, making it the only program of the year for Delaware harness racing that is exclusively for Delaware owned or bred horses.

Many of the races are also named in memory of former racing participants and dignitaries.

The DSBF final events are carded as the 1st, 6th, 8th and 9th with the male pacing final starting the program. Let It Ride Stables’ Bad Boy Too (5/2, Todd McCarthy) is the morning line favorite, fresh off a blowout overnight win for trainer Mike Hall. The Badlands Hanover gelding is in a contentious field that includes elimination sweepers, Leblanc Stables, Wayne Lutz, Count De Money Stable and Ronald Jones’ Night Terror (3/1, Allan Davis) and Gty Stable’s (5/1, Corey Callahan).

The filly trotting final is 6th on the card and features two standouts in Jeff Clark’s She Is Strong (7/5, Tim Tetrick) and James Craparotta and Berry Racing’s Miss Daburg (5/2, Pat Berry), both of whom swept their elimination legs and are sired by Anders Bluestone. She Is Strong, has won 8-of-14 in her career for trainer Art Stafford Jr., while Miss Daburg is in pursuit of a 4th straight win for trainer Traci Berry.

The filly pacing final is the 8th race and has the favorites on the inside, 3 of which have won eliminations. George and Tina Dennis’ Hold My Wine (9/5, Montrell Teague), a Badlands Hanover filly, has been uber competitive throughout the meet for trainer Joe Columbo and drew the rail. Stephen Messick’s Misty Coast (5/2, Art Stafford Jr.) drew post two and like Hold My Wine, had a win and a second place effort in her eliminations. Undefeated Killer Stripes (2/1, Tim Tetrick) remains the wild card for owners Andrew Stafford, Thomas Ireland and Bonnie Benson. The Badlands Hanover filly is unbeaten in 5 starts but drew outside (post four) the two inside contenders.

The male trotting final will start the late pick four (races 9-12). George Teague Jr., David Collins and Lakiya Teachey’s Kodack Black (7/5, Montrell Teague) won his eliminations by a combined 13 lengths and looks to be a popular favorite for trainer Clyde Francis from post six. A son of lightly bred Kodak Lindy, he has won 8 of 19 career starts. Shirley Shand’s Paleface (3/1, Ross Shand) also dominated his competition in the eliminations, including a 16-length win in his first elimination. The Anders Bluestone gelding drew post two. Robert Allison Jr.’s Perfect Twenty (7/1, Victor Kirby), a son of Yankee Royalty, won both DSBF finals as a freshman and drew post 8 for trainer Cliff Green.

In the $50,000 Governor’s Cup, a hard-hitting group of veteran pacers will vie for the coveted trophy presented by Delaware Governor John Carney. Kdk Standardbreds’ Heinikin Bythebay (5/2, Tetrick) and Elizabeth and Bret Brittingham’s Itsrockandroll A (9/2, Allan Davis) have already won multiple races at the meet and are among the prime contenders.

Among the races on the undercard are a trio of $20,000 DSBF consolations, and customary annual events for older horses, including the $35,000 Charles Murphy Jr. Memorial Trot, $35,000 Legislator’s Cup and $25,000 President’s Cup.

Highlighting the wagering options, in addition to the late pick four, there is an early pick four (races 2-5) and superfectas in all races but the 2nd, 9th and 10th.