by Matt Sparacino, publicity director, Harrington Raceway

Harrington, DE — Joe Muscara’s Mister Big will begin his pursuit of defending his Bobby Quillen Memorial title on Monday night (Oct. 19) at Harrington Raceway as he will compete in one of two $30,000 eliminations. The top four finishers from each division will return to compete in a $327,000 (est.) final on October 26.

Trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr., the 6-year-old Grinfromeartoear stallion is just shy of $4 million in his career and can surpass the earnings milestone with a strong finish in the final. He has earned more than $721,000 in 2009 and has been on the board in 12 of 14 starts. His regular pilot, Brian Sears, will once again assume control of the driving duties.

The path to victory won’t be an easy one however as he faces some top competition in the Quillen. While his division consists of quality older horses such as Gerrie Tucker and Keep the Tream Going’s BB Torio (4-1, Ryan Anderson), Gary and Barbara Iles’ Frog Juice (9-2, Jim Morand), Francis Azur’s Blueridge Western (2-1, David Miller), and Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables’ McCedes (3-1, Yannick Gingras), heavy hitters like the Ron Burke-trained entry of Foiled Again (5-2, Gingras) and Won The West (2-1, Miller) await a potential future battle in the remaining division.

Foiled Again is owned by the same contingent that owns McCedes, while Won The West is campaigned by owners Strollin Stable, Bill Robinson and James Koehler. Both horses have earned more than $500,000 in 2009. They will be joined by a trio of half-mile warriors in their division that includes Larry Stalbaum and Mike Sorentino’s Four Trumps A (3-1, Stalbaum), Frank Bellino’s Psiluvuheartbreaker (9-2, Jim Meittinis) and Thomas Hill’s Lucky Man (7-2, Daniel Dube).

Post time for Monday’s 15-race card begins at 5:15 p.m. There will also be five $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) events for 2-year-old pacers on the program.