Warrens Charm made easy work of her five rivals in the second $28,169 first-round division of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series for two-year-old pacing fillies at Bally's Dover, comfortably holding 3-5 favourite Odds On Put Option at bay en route to a lifetime-best win on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
A winner in four of her five starts coming into the Dover series, including the Oct. 14 final of the DSBF series at Harrington Raceway, Warrens Charm and driver Art Stafford Jr. were in no hurry at race's outset. They landed in fourth from the pole position before launching an extended brush midway around the first turn to clear early pacesetter Burlesque Belle (Corey Callahan) well after a :28.3 first quarter. After putting up middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27 — and gaining steady separation from a tiring Burlesque Bell up the backstretch — Warrens Charm parried a mild first-over challenge from Odds On Put Option (Tim Tetrick) on the far turn and defeated her by a measured length in 1:55.2. Moms Vision (Pat Berry) rallied for third, another 10-1/4 lengths behind.
Trainer Jason Skinner co-owns Warrens Charm with Rodney Wyatt. The Hes Watching-Azure Deo filly paid $4.40 to win as the 6-5 second choice.
In the first section, a non-betting event, Just Applause and driver Tetrick rolled to a pillar-to-post 1:56.2 win. The Hes Watching-Rock Me Baby filly put down the fractions of :28.3, :58.2, and 1:27.2 and kicked clear of her foes in the final quarter, defeating pocketed rival Meemaws Column (Russell Foster) by 2-1/4 lengths. Nickis Watching (Roger Plante Jr.) rallied mildly off the home turn to finish third.
Just Applause has won three times in six starts for trainer Linda Toscano and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Carl Howard.
Rookie pacing fillies will contest their second DSBF series preliminary round next Wednesday, Nov. 19. The top eight point earners from both preliminaries will then convene for a $110,000 USD final on Nov. 26.
The second preliminary round of the DSBF series for two-year-olds begins on Thursday, with 18 male pacers split into three divisions. The first section will take place as a non-wagering event at 4:10 p.m.; the second and third kick off a 15-race pari-mutuel Matron Stakes program at Bally's Dover with a first post of 4:30 p.m.
(Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund)