Willow Mill Anna and Spoonful notched victories in the second and final set of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) prelims for three-year-old trotting fillies, while Theresademoninme won the $20,000 Open Trot Handicap to highlight the Wednesday, Nov. 16 program at Dover Downs.
In the first $20,000 DSBF division, Willow Mill Anna battled Ohtobetheone down the backstretch before pulling away on the final turn on the way to a second straight prelim win in 2:05.3 for driver/trainer Gordon Barrett and his Willow Mill Stables. The Political Briefing-Lukes Samantha bay has now won three of her seven starts and $40,000 this year. Segway (Frank Milby), off at 61-1, trotted past Ohtobetheone (Jason Thompson) in mid-stretch to finish second.
Spoonful made it a Political Briefing sired pair of winners. Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing's filly won the fastest prelim with driver Jim Morand collecting his third success of the day. The Les Givens trainee won for the third time this campaign registering a 2:01.1 victory. Gogh Cinorita (Ross Wolfenden) was right there second with Political Energy (Corey Callahan) the show horse.
The top eight point-earners after the two prelims return next Wednesday for the $100,000 DSBF final.
An inside post position turned out a positive for Theresademoninme, a Kadabra-Tortoni gelding who scored his second win in his last three outings to reduce his lifetime record to 1:53.1 in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot. It was the second win on the card for trainer Dylan Davis and co-owner Mike Casalino. Last week’s winner, Glenferrie Dreamer (Pat Berry), came on strong to finish second, beaten by a neck. Il Mago (Tim Tetrick) garnered third-place, finishing a neck back.
The race before, Corey Callahan and a local favourite, Tough Mac, posted a 1:54 clocking in a $15,500 sub-feature Winners Over Trot. The Dylan Davis trainee for Mike Casalino won for the third time this year and upped his career bankroll over $300,000. Bluebird Reverend (Montrell Teague) closed with a rush to take second-place in front of Tag Up And Go (Berry).
Arnold, a three-year-old Donato Hanover-Precious Lindy gelding, made it three wins in a row as meet-;eading driver Vic Kirby guided him to a 1:56.3 win for owner/trainer Leigh Raymer. Arnold won for the sixth time in 2016 winning the $13,500 3,4&5-year-old trot. Bowdie De Vie (Allan Davis) and Wygant Angel (Jack Parker) were second and third, respectively.
After two preliminary legs, the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $100,000 freshman colt and gelding pace headlines the Thursday, Nov. 17 program at Dover Downs. Undefeated in five career starts, Henry The Dragon, with driver Montrell Teague, is the one to beat in a field of eight who qualified for the second $100,000 final of the year. Already an easy winner of Harrington Raceway’s October finale for owner George Teague and trainer Clyde Francis, Henry The Dragon drew post six. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Dover Downs)