by Matt Sparacino, publicity director, Harrington Raceway

Harrington, DE — Four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final events for 3-year-olds headlined the annual Governor’s Day card during the Delaware State Fair at Harrington Raceway on Thursday (July 28).

All four DSBF winners were capturing at least their second $100,000 DSBF final event.

Badlands Jenna was a half length winner over Stash The Cash.

Badlands Jenna ($2.10, Ben Stafford, Jr.) was the first DSBF winner in the event for pacing fillies. The Badlands Hanover filly improved to 17 for 22 in her career for trainer Ben Stafford, who co-owns the filly along with Winbak Farm. Badlands Jenna was a wire-to-wire winner over Stash The Cash and entrymate Devil May Care in 1:55.3. She completed a rare sweep of DSBF events at ages 2 and 3.

Heavy favorite Overnight Command ($2.10, Jim Morand) overcame an early miscue to score a three length win in the final for filly trotters. Co-owned by Morand and Nanticoke Racing, the CR Commando filly made an early break behind the gate before the start, but rebounded nicely and brushed to the front at the half-mile mark. She never looked back from that point in her 2:01.1 win over Tokyo Oklahoma and Political Starlet. Trainer Les Givens continued his dominance of the DSBF trotting events as Overnight Command increased her lifetime earnings to more than $225,000 by getting her 10th win in 13 career starts.

Meanwhile, Lawrence and Barbara Mayer’s Mob Boss ($3.60, Bret Brittingham) earned a decisive 3-1/4 length score in 2:01.3 for trainer A. Papadopoulos. Brittingham brushed to the front approaching the half-mile and drew away from Obey The Command and All Shoes On Deck in the stretch. The Don Boss Vita 3-year-old picked up his sixth win in nine lifetime starts.

Fotowon photos

Three Martini’s was a 1:54.1 winner for driver Montrell Teague.

The last DSBF final event was for pacing colts as Badlands Racing, George Teague, Jr. and Gunjan Patel’s Three Martini’s ($2.10, Montrell Teague) continued his dominance of the Delaware-bred colts with a two length win over Dyslexic and 99-1 shot Bradley’s Last Ride in a time of 1:54.1. Trained by George Teague, Jr., the Three Olives colt has won 10 of 23 career starts.

Another staple on the Governor’s Day program is a set of races for older horses, including the $40,000 Governor’s Cup for pacers. The Teague stable earned a double when K&R Racing and George Teague’s Southwind Lynx ($2.40, Montrell Teague) was a five length winner over Village Blast and Portrait in 1:53.1. It was the second straight Governor’s Cup for trainer Teague, who won last year’s event with Mr Wiggles. The Honorable Governor Jack Markell was on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

“It’s great to be here for another great race,” said Markell, who was experiencing his third Governor’s Cup. “I remember the Teagues from last year’s event.”

In the sub-featured events for older horses, Nanticoke Racing and Morand capped off a double with Tough Challenger ($2.20, Morand) in a 1:56.4 win over Gurf and Good Feeling in the $30,000 Charles Murphy Memorial Trot for trainer Givens.

Givens’ older brother, Wayne, took the $30,000 Legislator’s Cup for older mares with his VC Atom N ($8.20, Vince Copeland) who outfought Monochromatic late for a narrow win in 1:54.3. Co-owned by Niel Gargiulo and Bruce Baker, VC Atom is also trained by Wayne Givens.

In the $20,000 President’s Cup (older pacers), owner/trainer Daryl Bier’s Roy Orbisong ($6.40, Victor Kirby) gave his driver the first of two wins on the program, with a 1:55 victory over Camco Kyle and Proper Respect.

Drivers Kirby, Morand and Montrell Teague each had doubles as did trainers George Teague, Jr. and Les Givens.