DSBF Stakes week coming up at Harrington

HARRINGTON, DE – Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) action for 3-year-olds will headline the Harrington Raceway June 10-12 week of harness racing.

The first leg will be completed with 12 $20,000 divisions being contested over the Monday through Wednesday schedule.

Male pacers will kick off the action on Monday June 10 with a trio of divisions. The major contenders all drew into the same division, which is the second race on the program and opening leg of the pick four (races 2-5).

As last year’s DSBF champion, Beat Cop (7/5, Tim Tetrick) will square off with rivals Stephen Messick’s Papas Son (3/1, Art Stafford Jr.) and Captain Pete (9/5, Allan Davis), owned by Mulilgan and Calcutta Stable’s and Denise Davis.

Beat Cop, a son of Dragon King, is trained by Crissy Crissman-Bier and banked $165,225 as a freshman, while upstart Captain Pete was unraced at 2 and has won 6-of-8 starts as a son of Roddy’s Bags Again. The remaining divisions are also in the early pick four in races three and four.

The filly pacing division is more contentious and will be contested Tuesday June 11 in three divisions. Bob Shahan’s Jett Propelled (7/5, Barton Dalious) and Jo Ann Looney-King’s Curtsyforpurrseco (3/2, Tim Tetrick) head the first division. Both are daughters of Roddy’s Bags Again. All three events are in the early pick four.

Co-owner/trainer Andrew Stafford will send Badlands Hanover-sired filly Bad Nella Monella (7/5, Art Stafford Jr.) as the favorite in pursuit of her 4^th straight win in the second division, slated fourth on the 15-race program. Shawn Hanley’s Grace O’Malley (9/5, Corey Callahan), will no doubt be the favorite in the final division, the fifth race, after her most recent win. The Emeritus Maximus filly has been one of the more improved horses this season for trainer Crissman-Bier.

Trotters will battle on Wednesday with three divisions apiece for males and females. One early non-wagering event will be held at 4:10 p.m. featuring 5 fillies, including 2-year-old DSBF champ Going Platinum (Corey Callahan), a daughter of EL Platinum for trainer Nick Callahan and Breakaway Racing.

On the wagering program (morning line odds not yet available), the first two races on the 15-race card, will feature likely heavy favorites in James Craparotta and Pat Berry Racing’s Daburg (Berry) and Nanticoke Racing and Delbert Cain’s Platinum Proposal (Jim Morand). Daburg, daughter of Anders Bluestone for trainer Jason Skinner, is looking to atone for a break in stride in her last start, while EL Platinum-sired Platinum Proposal has won 2 straight for trainer Les Givens and will head the second race.

Male trotters will battle in races four, six and seven. Deborah Warnick’s Royal Beep Beep (Driver TBA), will be the likely favorite in the first split. The Yankee Royalty filly banked $74,568 at 2 for trainer Skinner. Brett Macdonald’s Workslikeacharm (Victor Kirby) won the DSBF late closer this season at Bally’s Dover and will square off with familiar rival Lg’s Bluestone (Art Stafford Jr.) in the second split.

Workslikeacharm is an EL Platinum gelding trained by Jim King Jr., while LG’s Bluestone hails from co-owner/trainer Givens’ barn, who has experienced an abundance of success in the DSBF program with trotters over the years.

Another Givens’ horse, Lg’s Jaxon (Jim Morand) stands out in the final division. The Rolls Blue Chip gelding has won two straight and was a 2-year-old DSBF champ.

Live racing will continue on a Monday through Wednesday schedule (post time 4:30 p.m.).

by Matt Sparacino, for Harrington Raceway