by Matt Sparacino, publicity director, Harrington Raceway

Harrington, DE — Western Ace ($20, Jim Morand) and Maltese Artist ($15, Yannick Gingras) each won their respective $30,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial elimination at Harrington Raceway on Monday, October 15.

Maltese Artist rallied for a 1:51.1 win in the first Bobby Quillen Memorial elimination.

Sylvia Burke, John Howard and James Koran’s Maltese Artist received a perfect two hole trip behind pacesetting favorite Mister Big, who set fractions of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:23.3.

While Silent Swing challenged the leader to the three-quarters, Maltese Artist readied for the passing lane and surged by for the 1:51.1 win. Mister Big held second while True North Hanover was third. Holborn Hanover took fourth and thus qualified for next week’s $345,500 final.

Trained by Mickey Burke, Maltese Artist, a 6-year-old Artiscape gelding, earned his 10th win of the year.

Kovach Stables and Teague Inc.’s Western Ace won in similar fashion as Morand guided the 4-year-old Western Ideal gelding to a pocket trip behind pacesetting Jereme’s Jet (Tony Morgan), who parked out Gold Dust Beach to fractions of :26.3, :54.1 and 1:23.1.

Foto Won photos

Western Ace was alone at the wire in his 1:51 triumph.

Morand tipped ‘Ace’ to the outside in the stretch and he paced by willingly for the 1:51 triumph. Jereme’s Jet held second while Tarver Hanover finished third. Mypanmar was fourth and earned the final spot in next week’s final.

The George Teague-trained Western Ace won his fourth race of the year as his lifetime earnings soared to nearly $1.4 million.

“I hoped he’d be a bit better tonight,” said Teague. “I made some adjustments and hoped he could get away a bit closer and he did. Jimmy (Morand) drove him perfect and things worked out.”

Western Ace also established a new track record for 4-year-old pacing geldings.

The top four finishers from each division will return for the October 22 final.

Morand, Tony Morgan and David Miller each won three races on the card.