Warrens Charm won the $70,776 final of a late closing series for three-year-old pacing fillies eligible to the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund stakes at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday, April 1.

Eighteen-year-old provisional driver Ryder Skinner got the opportunity to drive in the biggest race of his life for his father, trainer Jason Skinner.

Lovers Cay (Montrell Teague) gained the early advantage out of post two and aggressively parked out Meemaws Column (Russell Foster) from post four and Warrens Charm from post six approaching the quarter pole. The opening quarter went in :26.4.

Meemaws Column found a seat in the pocket while Warrens Charm continued to race parked and cleared the lead in front of the stands. Warrens Charm, the 1-5 betting favourite, continued confidently on the lead, passing the half in :55.3.

Meemaws Column braved the first-over journey up the backstretch while Lovers Cay remained content in the pocket, but Warrens Charm cruised to the three-quarters in 1:24 flat as the field struggled to keep pace. She drew off in the stretch and won by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. Nickis Watching (Tony Morgan) closed to finish second and Lovers Cay was third.

Jason Skinner shares ownership of Warrens Charm, a Hes Watching-Azure Deo filly who won the DSBF Stakes final at Harrington Raceway last year and is perfect in three series/seasonal starts, with Rodney Wyatt of Milford, Delaware.

"I was confident of her ability despite being parked a long way," said Ryder Skinner, who also drove the filly in the first two legs of this series.

When asked about giving his son the driving assignment, Jason Skinner responded by saying, “His mom wanted him to drive.”

The bettors were also confident in Warrens Charm, making her the heavy favourite. She paid $2.60 to win.

Later on the card, former DSBF Series champion Jett Propelled and driver Jason Thompson won a hotly contested $34,722 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace.

As stormed clouds drew near, it was a battle royale for the ages. Ballast (Art Stafford Jr.) blasted off the wings of the starting gate first from post four. Jett Propelled also left from post six and the two pacing mares squared off early. They reached the opening quarter in a spirited :25.4. 

Last week's winner, Racin Hungry (Pat Berry), joined in on the hunt and was also parked on the outside but with cover. The best pacing mares on the grounds raced double tiered with neither giving in. The half was clocked in a blistering :53.2.

The heavyweight fight continued up the backstretch between Ballast on the inside and Jett Propelled on the rim. The battled continued to the three-quarters in 1:22.1. Ballast and Jett Propelled raced side by side looking each other eye to eye daring for the other to quit. Racin Hungry was sent three-wide of cover; however, her bid stalled.

At the top of the lane, the street fight continued as Jett Propelled finally wore down the pacesetter Ballast. Almost Persuaded (Russell Foster) saved ground along the pylons and was closing fast. Jett Propelled delivered the knock out blow and scored an impressive 1:51.4 victory by three-quarters of a length. Almost Persuaded edged out the game Ballast and late-closing Factory Girl (Tim Tetrick) for third.

Jett Propelled, a five-year-old daughter of Roddys Bags Again and Jett Away, is owned, trained and was bred by an elated Bob Shahan of Harrington, Delaware.

"She showed them that she is the boss,” Shahan said beaming after the race.

"She’s the greatest pacing mare I ever drove," added Thompson.

Jett Propelled equalled her lifetime mark taken in February while recording her fifth win of the season in a dozen starts. A 21-time career winner, she now boasts more than $600,000 in lifetime earnings.

The winner paid $9.80 as the 7-2 third wagering choice.

The feature on Thursday’s betting card is the $51,300 USD late closing series final for three-year-old colt pacers in the second race. Downers Delight, Dover's Horse Of The Meet, returns in the $25,000 USD Open Handicap Pace while Wehadababyetzaboy looks to extend his three-race win streak in the event. Thursday is the final night of live harness racing for the season. Post time is
4:30 p.m.

(With files from Bally's Dover)