Four $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies were contested Monday at Harrington Raceway.
The top eight point-getters from the first two legs will return to compete in the $100,000 final on October 20.
The fastest and most impressive winner of the divisions was Carter Racing Stable’s Totally Rusty ($2.10, Corey Callahan) who broke her dam’s track record with a 1:54.1 decisive score. It was one of three wins on the card for trainer Doug Lewis. As the only foal for sire, Rustys For Real, Totally Rusty is 3-for-3 in her young career. After clearing the lead near the opening quarter-mile, Totally Rusty never relented in a visually impressive performance.
Totally Rusty’s dam, Rustys Joy, co-held the track record with Shes Everything and Little Bit Tricky of 1:55.4. It was one of three wins on the program for Callahan. Totally Rusty’s 1:54.1 mile also established a new stakes record.
Gigi Deo ($2.10, Andrew McCarthy) notched her third win in four starts in her career in the first division for owner J And T Silva Stables, C&G Racing Stables and Deo Volente Farms after a 1:56.3 triumph as the heavy favourite for trainer Aaron Lambert. The Riggins-sired filly was recently second with grand circuit fillies in the Kentuckiana at Hoosier Park (Indiana).
In the only upset of the DSBF divisions, Gary Simpson and Eric Good’s Puddle Jumper ($14.20, George Dennis) was victorious in 1:57.2. A daughter of Riggins, Puddle Jumper sat behind pacesetter Fancy Sound throughout before emerging down the passing lane late for a win over the latter. Love Forbidden was the overwhelming favourite and battled first over throughout but was unable to close ground late and finished third. Puddle Jumper was making her third straight for co-owner and trainer Simpson.
The final division went to Joann Looney-King’s Purrfect Bags ($2.10, Victor Kirby), who improved to 2-for-2 lifetime with a front end 1:57 victory over a pocket sitting Brians Thunder. The Roddys Bags Again filly is trained by Jim King, Jr. Kirby had three winners on the card.
In the overnight feature, Callahan piloted Lewis-trained Delaware Hanover ($4) for owner Howard Taylor to an off-the-pace score in 1:53 in the $13,750 Open II.
(Harrington Raceway)