After pulling away to an 8-1 upset in second-round preliminary action, Nanticoke Racing and Delbert Cain's Platinum Proposal upset again — this time at 18-1 — in the $110,000 Marv Bachrad Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series final for two-year-old trotting fillies, held Monday, Nov. 20 at Bally's Dover.
Jim Morand was content to rate the E L Platinum-SJs Proposal filly in fourth as 3-5 public choice Going Platinum (Corey Callahan) controlled early fractions of :28.2 and :59.4 while second choice Daburg (Pat Berry) drafted from the pocket. Nearly six lengths behind just before the race's midpoint, Morand angled Platinum Proposal off the pegs from fourth to avoid being pinned in by Lovies Place. As soon as Platinum Proposal got her cue, she surged wide of rivals to draw within a half length of Going Platinum with three-eighths to go. The pair duelled past three-quarters in 1:29.1, around the far turn and through the stretch, with Platinum Proposal finding another gear in the final yards and prevailing by a head in a lifetime best 1:59.2. Going Platinum was a game second. Rip Away (Cody Poliseno) rallied for third wide of a flagging Daburg.
Platinum Proposal, who has now won three of nine starts and banked $116,300, races for trainer Les Givens. She paid $38.40 to win.
In the $20,000 DSBF consolation for two-year-old trotting fillies, Marinos Prize ($2.10, Ross Wolfenden) rode the pocket behind runner-up Platinum Blue (Allan Davis) before emerging off the final turn to win by a length in 2:01.1. Nick DeVita trains the E L Platinum-Private Marino filly for David Hamm, Glenn Phillips and DeVita Racing Stable.
The $110,000 DSBF final for two-year-old male trotters headlines the Tuesday, Nov. 21 pari-mutuel program at Bally's Dover and will go as the 12th of 15 races. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).
(Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)