Trainer Vince Copeland took two of the three $27,778 first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) preliminary events for three-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Bally's Dover as both Git Goin and Bobbys Grace defeated odds-on favourites in their respective splits.

Git Goin, whom Copeland also owns and drives, sustained a first-over push out of fourth up the backstretch and through the far turn. The filly then collared pacesetter Mad Anne (Jason Thompson) with 50 metres to go and evaded a late rally from 1-5 favourite Valentina Station (Trae Porter) to win the third division by two lengths in 1:55. Sweet Samsara (David Rearic) narrowly saved third up the open stretch over Mad Anne.

The Badlands Hanover-Goin Again filly, now a four-time winner from 20 career starts, paid $10.60 to win as the 4-1 second choice.

Copeland's other stakes winner was Bobbys Grace, whom Russell Foster drove to a 1:55 win in the second division. The Roddys Bags Again-Casino Bus filly latched onto the live cover of Tilted Crown (Allan Davis) up the backstretch, launched a three-wide push midway around the far turn, and reached the lead with 70 metres to go before holding off an inside bid from 1-9 favourite Little Miss Peyton (Corey Callahan) to win by a length. Pacesetter Proper Lady (Cody Poliseno) finished third.

Bobbys Grace, who paid $11.40 to win as the 9-2 second choice, has won four of 23 career starts for owner Michael Baio.

Copeland also won with A Rocknroll Bus ($2.40) to complete a training triple on the 15-race card. He has tallied 19 victories this year, his best total since 2018.

In the first division, Bella Artiste and driver Jim Morand prevailed at 1-9, making every pole a winning one en route to a 2-1/4-length, 1:56.1 score over Mimosa On The Key (Tim Tetrick) and Odds Beater (Justin Vincent). Les Givens trains the Badlands Hanover-Arts Bid filly, who now has won 12 of her 24 career starts, for Nanticoke Racing, Arthur Feeney and Chad Tate. She paid $2.20 to win.

In the overnight feature, Ballast followed cover and surged late to win the $34,722 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace.

Laurel Court (Art Stafford Jr.) sprinted early and cleared to the front approaching the opening quarter in :26.3 while Jett Propelled (Jason Thompson) settled into the pocket. Ballast (Corey Callahan) and odds-on choice Ragtime Red (Tim Tetrick) were content to save energy along the pylons in third and fourth, respectively, while Laurel Court led the top Dover mares to the half in :56.

Ragtime Red maneuvered first-over into the freezing temperatures racing up the backstretch, and Ballast benefitted from a second-over trip when Incaseyoudidntknow (Jim Morand) gapped her cover. Laurel Court continued on the lead to the three-quarters in 1:23.4. Ragtime Red pulled to the front at the top of the stretch, but Ballast sprinted home and reached up to win by a head in 1:52.4. Ragtime Red finished second and Incaseyoudidntknow took third.

Ballast, a daughter of Tall Dark Stranger-Catamaran Fashion, is owned by EVM Racing LLC. Chuck Crissman Jr. trains the filly, now an eight-time winner from 26 lifetime starts. The three-year-old, a Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion this year, paid $24.60 for the win against older rivals.

Thursday's card will feature a $27,500 USD Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace headed by Muskateer Hanover and Itsrockandroll A, as well as the first leg of the DSBF series for sophomore pacing males. The first of two $20,000 USD splits will take place as a non-wagering event at 4:10 p.m. and the second will kick off the 12-race pari-mutuel card at 4:30 p.m. There will be a Pick-5 carryover worth $1,348.

(DSBF & Dover Downs)