The second leg of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) for two-year-old trotters highlighted a 15-race program on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Harrington Raceway.
The rookies contested a quartet of $27,778 divisions, two for each sex.
Dancing Willow ($3.80) was a 2:01 winner for driver Jason Green, trainer Clifton Green, and owner Whodathunkit Stable LLC in the first division for fillies. The Dusty Winner-Will You Dance miss won for the second straight week, travelling a gapped third through :30.1, 1:00.1, and 1:31 panels before rolling to the front and hanging on by a nose over Wolfpack One (Troy Beyer). Rainingrainbows (Allan Davis) was third. The winner is now two-for-four.
Also completing an elimination sweep was Tuis Star ($2.20), who won the second filly split with Corey Callahan at the lines in 2:01. She commenced a first-over move after racing third through fractions of :30.2, 1:01.3, and 1:32.1 and soared clear by 6-3/4 lengths over Emerys Angel (Art Stafford Jr.). Suburban Lady (Beyer) completed the ticket. Trained by Dave Wiest, the winning homebred E L Platinum-Tui filly notched her second win in six career starts. The conditioner co-owns her with Don Wiest.
Sweepea ($3.60) also came from the three-hole, making his move after :30.1, 1:00.4, and 1:31.3 splits and going clear by 1-3/4 lengths to prevail in 2:01.1 in the first male division. Pappys Deal (Davis) and Winging It (Steve Smith) were second and third, respectively. Sweepea, a Top Flight Angel-Miss Popeye gelding, recorded his first career win in his second attempt for owner-breeder-trainer Thomas Lail. The win was one of three on the card for Callahan.
Thiskissformaryell ($2.10) went all the way on top in the second male group, setting the panels of :29.4, 1:00.1, and 1:31.1 for Jim Morand and completing the mile in 2:01. He was three lengths the best over Come On Miller (Callahan), with and Whitesville D Hill (Ross Wolfenden) third. The winner, a son of Iron Mine Bucky-Twin B Kisses, completed a sweep of his eliminations for trainer Les Givens and owners Nanticoke Racing Inc., Jim Magno and Joe Fonte. The gelding has won three of seven starts.
The top eight point-earners per division from the two rounds of DSBF eliminations legs will return for the $110,000 USD finals on Oct. 13-15.
Navy Blue ($7.40) won the overnight feature, the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot held in memory of Rick Murphy. Art Stafford Jr. had the gelding fifth through early fractions of :28.1 and :56.3, pulled him first-up to three-quarters in 1:26.2, and Navy Blue grinded out a one-length victory in 1:55.1. All Wrapped Up (Davis) was second, followed by Speed Away (Callahan). Trained by Stacy Johnson-Stafford, Navy Blue took his 20th lifetime win in 44 attempts. The six-year-old son of Anders Bluestone-Overnight Hit is owned by Austin Stafford and Wyatt Starkey.
(With files from Harrington Raceway)