Mavericks Missy sat patiently off the pace and rolled to victory in the $50,800 DSBF Filly Pace Final at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (March 29).

No Gel Nikki was the aggressor and left fastest away from the starting gate. Spoiled Rotn Girl was parked in the two path and Kims Secret Search was parked three-wide as the filly trio reached the quarter in a hotly contested :27.3.

Kims Secret Search finally cleared the lead before the half. No Gel Nikki became stubborn and took the lead away from Kims Secret Search as the two rivals continued to battle to the half in :56.1.

No Gel Nikki opened a length and a half advantage to the three-quarters in 1:26.1. Mavericks Missy and driver Russell Foster waited patiently for the dust to settle and launched their uncovered bid down the backstretch from last. Mavericks Missy challenged No Gel Nikki for the lead past the three-quarters and in the lane.

No Gel Nikki dug in gamely but became leg weary in the late stages of the race. Mavericks Missy had all of the momentum and powered to the front and got the win by three-quarter lengths in 1:57.2. No Gel Nikki finished second and Kims Secret Search was third. 

Mavericks Missy is owned by 87-year-old Marion Andrew of Centerville, Md., who, after the race, claimed that “it was the thrill of a lifetime.”

Mark Shahan Jr. trains the three-year-old Roddys Bags Again filly, who earned just her second win in 14 career starts. She paid $16.40 to win. 

Feeling Sweet breezed to victory in the $25,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday for driver Mike Cole and trainer Joe Columbo.

Three distaffers rocketed off the wings of the starting gate and towards the quarter pole. Divine Deo rushed along the pylons parking out both Dewitt For Jose and Feeling Sweet, who was three-wide. The quarter was reached in :26.3.

The pace levelled off as Feeling Sweet wrestled the lead away from Devine Deo. She marched the field to the half in :55.4 with Dewitt For Josie still parked out and left chasing first-over on the rim. A Delightful Act N shadowed second-over and Always B First raced third-over.

Feeling Sweet accepted all challengers reaching the three-quarters confidently in 1:23.1. In the stretch, she drew off and won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3 as the 4-5 betting favourite. She paid $3.80. A Delightful Act N finished second and Dewitt For Josie was third.

The six-year-old Sweet Lou mare, who is now three-for-eight this year and has 24 lifetime wins approaching the half-million dollar mark, is owned by George and Tina Dennis Racing of Wyoming, Delaware. 

Bally’s Dover will conclude its live harness racing season on Thursday, March 30. There is a $7,751 Pentafecta carryover into the card that must be paid out. The wager is offered on the 15th and final live race on the card. The DSBF three-year-old pacing colts will vie for a $51,900 prize in their late closer final. Newly announced Horse of the Bally’s Dover meet, Penzance Hanover, will look to ride off as a winner as he will headline in the Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace in the 12th race. First race post time is 4:30 p.m.

(With files from Bally's Dover)