Tuis Star and Thiskissformaryell captured their $154,930 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Finals, capping off sweeps of their divisions of the series on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Harrington Raceway.
Tuis Star was an easy 1:59.4 winner from post seven in the filly event. The E L Platinum-Tui filly settled in fourth early for Corey Callahan, remained in position through :30 and 1:00.4 fractions, and was urged confidently first-over en route to three-quarters in 1:30.4 before clearing and drawing off from the field by 5-1/4 lengths. Dancing Willow (Jason Green) was best of the rest, and Wolfpack One (Troy Beyer) finished third.
After starting her career winless in four starts, Tuis Star has scored in three straight outings for trainer David Wiest, who co-owns the filly with Don Wiest. She has earned $109,552. The win price was $3.
In the colt-and-gelding final, Thiskissformaryell came out on the right side of a photo finish for his fourth straight victory. The Iron Mine Bucky-Twin B Kisses gelding reached the front for Jim Morand past the quarter in :30.2, set 1:00.3 and 1:31.2 middle fractions, and he hung on by a nose over the charging pocket-tripper Pappys Deal (Allan Davis) to prevail in 2:01.3. Prime Yield (Art Stafford Jr.) was third.
Thiskissformaryell is now four-for-eight with $123,307 in earnings for trainer Les Givens. The gelding is owned by Nanticoke Racing Inc., Jim Magno, and Joe Fonte. He paid $5.60 to win.
E&K Stable Inc. and Robert Nibblett Jr.'s Topflight Champion ($12.60, Eddie Dennis) was a 2:01.4 winner in the $28,169 DSBF Consolation. The Top Flight Angel-Js Foxy Lady gelding earned his first career win in two tries by 10-1/4 lengths for trainer/driver Dennis.
All Wrapped Up ($7.60) won the $25,352 Open Handicap Trot, the overnight feature, off a pocket trip in 1:56.2. He collared pacesetter Dyladmar (Russell Foster) late for driver Allan Davis for the neck victory. Navy Blue (Art Stafford Jr.) was third. The winning Archangel-Jukebox Jackie nine-year-old notched his 43rd lifetime win in 212 starts and increased his earnings to $735,969. Tyler Davis trains the gelding, who is six-for-21 this year, for J&T Davis LLC.
Also on the undercard, Tom Creek ($15) was a 1:56.4 winner in the $20,423 Winners Over Trot. He rode a four-wide move from seventh to victory by three-quarters of a length for driver Eddie Dennis. Vlahos (Montrell Teague) was second, followed by Secret Jet (Allan Davis). Tom Creek, a four-year-old Long Tom-Prettysydney Ridge gelding, continued his successful meet for trainer William Wagenhoffer and owners Wagenhoffer Racing LLC and E&K Stable Inc. with his seventh win of the season in 23 attempts. He is now 11-for-62 with $154,910 in lifetime bankroll.
Shirley Shand's Snow Burst ($4, Ross Shand), a graduate of the DSBF program, started the card with an impressive 1:57 win in a $10,563 conditioned trot. The six-year-old Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst gelding, trained by Ross Shand, is now 12-for-99 lifetime.
(Harrington Raceway; photo of Tuis Star winning on Oct. 15)