Sunfire Blue Chip takes $150,000 Quillen

HARRINGTON, DE  – Sunfire Blue Chip ($17.20, Mark Macdonald) was a 1:51.1 winner in the 12th Annual $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway Monday.

The race annually spotlights many of the sport's top older pacers and honors former long-time Delaware legislator Bobby Quillen, who passed away in 2004. Quillen was a regular at the racetrack, who enjoyed live harness racing and was endeared by many in the community.

Owned by Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical and R A W Equine, Sunfire Blue Chip, a Jimmy Takter-trainee, notched his 32nd career win off a pocket trip. Scott Rocks closed ground for second with Evenin of Pleasure third. Rockin Ron set the fractions and faded to fourth.

An 8-year-old American Ideal stallion, "Sunfire" scored his second straight win in his 108th career start.

"My horse was really good last start at Yonkers," said Macdonald. "I kind of had an all-or-nothing approach behind the gate tonight and was able to get a great trip and it worked out. You can do anything you want with him. He's a lot of fun to drive. "

It was a productive first visit to Harrington for driver Macdonald, whose a regular at Yonkers Raceway (Ny).

Five Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $20,000 elimination events for 2-year-old pacers were on the undercard with Team Teague stealing the show with three wins. George Teague and K&R Racing's The Lady Sheriff ($8, Montrell Teague) was the first filly winner in 1:57.2 for trainer Clyde Francis. The Southwind Lynx filly registered her first career win off a ground saving trip.

The first division for colt and gelding pacers would soon ensue with The Lady Sheriff's stablemate, Dashiki ($3) scoring a 1:54.1 score for the Teague and Francis combo. Dashiki held off a fierce late rally from Chillaxin Away to achieve his first career win in his third lifetime starts. Dashiki is a son of Barber Pole.

The second filly division went to The Wiz Kids Stable's Golden Wigglet ($7, Bart Dalious) in 1:57.1. The Mr. Wiggles filly notched her second career win for trainer/driver Dalious with a late rally that reeled in pacesetter Vistamista late.

The third filly division saw Edward Walls' Lily's Puddle Jumper ($4.80, David Rearic) score in 1:59.1. The Gamblers Dream filly outkicked pacesetter Miss Giggles to the wire for a one length win. Trained by Walls, it was her second career win.

The final colt division to another Teague-tied horse, George Teague Jr.'s Keepmywiglegametyt ($6.40, Montrell Teague) who surged clear of leader Son Of A Lynx in deep stretch for his first career win. The Francis-trainee is a son of Mr. Wiggles.

In the $15,000 Open overnight feature, Richard Lombardo, Charles Cochran III and Josh Green's JJ Flynn ($7, Yannick Gingras) was a 1:51.2 winner over Q's Cruise and Options Are A Dream.

by Matt Sparacino, for Harrington Raceway