Trainer Les Givens captured two of Wednesday's three $28,169 second-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund splits for two-year-old pacing fillies at Bally's Dover, as odds-on favourites Little Miss Peyton and Bella Artiste posted repeat victories in their respective events.
In the first split, Little Miss Peyton and driver Corey Callahan seized control from Tilted Crown (Russell Foster) just past a :28 first quarter, rated middle splits of :57.3 and 1:27, and then held off that rival by a neck to score in 1:55.2. Sweet Samsara (David Rearic) finished third.
Little Miss Peyton, a Papa Ray-Armbro Cashmere filly, competes as a homebred for Donna Messick. The seven-time winner paid $2.10 to win in her 10th start.
In the second section, Bella Artiste and driver Jim Morand seated Valentina Station (Eddie Dennis) into the pocket through a :27.4 first quarter, coast through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.4, and evaded her pocket foe by 1-3/4 lengths to win in 1:56.3. Mornin Merle (Pat Berry) was a one-paced third after stalking the top pair throughout the mile.
Bella Artiste, a daughter of Badlands Hanover-Arts Bid, has now won five of her 10 career starts for Nanticoke Racing, Arthur Feeney and Chad Tate. She paid $2.60 to win.
Immaculate Inning gave trainer Jim King Jr. a DSBF win, sustaining a mid-race brush in line to Tim Tetrick to overtake early pacesetter Banana Cabana (Tony Morgan) and win by 1-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:57.1. Cake Pop (Jason Thompson) stayed on for third after stalking closely.
Jo Ann Looney-King owns and bred Immaculate Inning, a Roddys Bags Again-End To End Hanover filly who won for the second time in eight career starts. She paid $2.80 to win.
In addition to second-round winners Little Miss Peyton, Bella Artiste and Valentina Station, the following fillies qualify for the $110,000 USD DSBF series final, to be held on Nov. 27: Immaculate Inning, Tilted Crown, Banana Cabana, Mornin Merle and Sweet Samsara.
Majorca N won back-to-back stints in the Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover with a 1:51 repeat victory on Wednesday.
In the last six starts that Majorca N and Incaseyoudidntknow faced one another, they each won three races. In Wednesday's $35,211 top distaff pace, Majorca N wasted no time asserting herself and Corey Callahan sent her down the road. Elektra A (Tim Tetrick), the invader from The Meadowlands, left from post six and retreated to the pocket. Incaseyoudidntknow (Jim Morand) settled third along the pylons racing to the quarter pole.
Majorca N was breathing fire and led the field to an opening quarter in :26.2 then cruised to the half in :55.3 in a pedestrian :29.1 quarter. Incaseyoudidntknow vacated her position along the pylons and brushed up the backstretch. The two rivals, Majorca N and 3-5 betting favourite Incaseyoudidntknow, met one another at the three-quarters in 1:23.4. Elektra A watched all the action from pocket position.
Incaseyoudidntknow sustained a broken hopple and went off stride at the top of the stretch, leaving Elektra A and Majorca N to battle in the stretch. Majorca N prevailed by a half length. Elektra A finished second with Melody Hanover (Ross Wolfenden) third.
Majorca N, a nine-year-old Art Major-Cloudy Beach mare, is owned by Mike Casalino Jr. and Dylan Davis Racing. Dylan Davis trains the 40-time winner.
Tim Tetrick drove five winners on back-to-back nights while Corey Callahan piloted four winners.
Two-year-old male pacers will take center stage at Bally's Dover on Thursday, contesting their $110,000 USD DSBF series championship as the fourth event on a 14-race card. The 10th race Progress Pace elimination carries a purse of $35,000 USD with 11 three-year-old pacing colts and geldings going to the gate. The top eight in the official order of finish will return for the Progress Pace final with an estimated purse of $250,000 USD on Nov. 27. First post is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Bally's Dover and Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)