The top eight three-year-old colt and gelding trotters will vie for the $25,000 Governor’s Cup Championship Wed. Aug. 16 at the Indiana State Fair. Several of the contenders for the title have been impressive this summer, including Woodside Genius from the Robert Taylor barn.
Woodside Genius and Robert Taylor will be seeking the title in the Governor’s Cup Championship Wed. Aug. 16 for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings at the Indiana State Fair. Photo by Dean Gillette
Woodside Genius comes into the event with the quickest time this season, a win in 1:57.4 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in the session of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) held over the track in late June. With four wins total, Woodside Genius has drawn post six and Taylor will guide the Dover Dan gelding in the Championship for owners Taylor Racing and Devon Miller.
Also joining Woodside Genius as a major contender is Prince Henry, who broke the track record this summer at Kentland. The Musclesprinctonian gelding has the most wins this season at five and starts from post three with Michael Detweiler in the bike. Leander Schwartz trains the trotter for owner-breeder Vernon Oakerson.
Help Dust has only one win this year, but he has hit the board 14 times in 21 starts this year. The Helpisontheway son has the most purse earnings of the field and will be driven from post seven by Clint Coy. Doug Rideout trains the gelding that is owned by Julie Rideout, Dr. Alan White, and Dave Gamble.
The three-year-old colt and gelding trotters will be the final race of the program that begins at 5 p.m. The full field, in post position order with driver, includes: Asliveroffashion (Mike Peterson); Closed Deal (LeWayne Miller); Prince Henry (Michael Detweiler); Cantab Superstar (Gerald Miller); Mr Knowitall (Doug Rideout); Woodside Genius (Robert Taylor); Help Dust (Clint Coy); and Jailhouse Yankee (Brad Ferguson).
Three-year-old filly trotters will be the race before with Sure Do leading the field in purse earnings, wins and the quickest time of 2023. The You Know You Do filly has won nine of 11 this year for more than $25,000 in earnings. Trained and driven by Jay Cross, Sure Do’s best win was at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1:55.1. She starts from post two in the Championship.
Another filly with multiple wins this season on the ISFC is Swartz Bros Donna, who is scheduled to start from post three. With Mike Peterson in the bike, the Colie’s filly, trained by Justin White, has six wins this season.
The full field of three-year-old trotting fillies, in post position order with driver, includes: Virgne’s Aprillady (Jack Kieninger Jr.); Sure Do (Jay Cross); Swartz Bros Donna (Mike Peterson); Unforgettable (Doug Rideout); Trickin (Brad Ferguson); Sea Surfer (Clint Coy); Jailhouse Garland (Gerald Miller); and Wanda’s Wonder (Jared Seekman).
A total of $200,000 will be offered in the Governor’s Cup Championships. Earlier in the day, the Governor’s Cup Consolation rounds, vying for purses of $10,000 each, will be held beginning at 1 p.m.