On Sunday August 27th the trotting colts and geldings went as race two in the Hubert Jackson Memorial with a purse of $48,650. Harness racing driver Jonathan Roberts sent Judge Bob (Great George Two) flying out of the gate to control the mile holding off a rally by Chucky De Vie to win by a length in the 2:01.4 mile. Megan Roberts trains for owners and breeders Wm. Roberts, Graham Grace Stables and M & W Stable. Judge Bob is two wins in two lifetime starts.
The W.W ‘Pete’ Shaw Memorial was race three for pacing fillies with a purse of $39,700. Reinsman Vic Kirby got away third with favorite Miss Choptank (Total Truth) pulling at the half to circle the field and stop the clock six lengths ahead of H S Shauna in the 1:57.1 mile. Wayne Givens trains for Legacy Racing of DE and Stephen Townsend, the breeder is Olive Branch Farm.
The finals continued on Monday Aug. 28th with the $42,400 Ronald Banning Memorial for the trotting fillies. Gaagaa Gone (GooGoo GaaGaa) lived up to the ‘gone’ part of her name when she took the lead from the 7 hole opening up 2 lengths by the half, 7 by the ¾ pole and 9 at the wire for driver/owner/ breeder Corey Callahan. Richard Hans trains the filly. Crystals Pistol was second in the 2:02.4 mile. Gaagaa Gone is now 4 for 4 in lifetime starts.
The pacing colts and geldings closed the summer finals with Toms Tyrannosaurus (Cam’s Rocket) sweeping the series with a 1:56.3 mile a neck in front of I Run The Show. Art Stafford Jr. was in the bike for trainer Roger Hans and owner/breeder Thomas Cooke. The purse was $38,100.
By Cheri Stambaugh