Penny Paratrooper won the first of four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund two-year-old finals to highlight Monday’s program at Dover Downs.
Ross Wolfenden was at the controls as the bay filly took command on the backstretch and opened up romping to a 1:58.2 victory her fifth in six races.
“The only time she didn’t win was after breaking stride early in the $100,000 final last month at Harrington,” said driver Ross Wolfenden.
I Got Spunk (Corey Callahan) finished second, with fast finishing Silence Is Bliss (Robert White) third.
Carl and Rod Allen bred and raced both world champion CR Commando and the dam, CR Penny Lane. Rod Allen broke and then sold the Penny Paratrooper to present owners trainer Carlo Poliseno and Foulk Racing Stable.
Driver Wolfenden behind another daughter of CR Commando, Sign N Drive, whose dam is Tybridge, won the $20,000 DSBF Consolation. Star Hit (Tony Morgan) nipped Mila Bella (George Dennis) for second-place. The win was the fourth in eight starts for Sign N Drive trained by Duane Wagner for owner Scott Woogen.
In $20,000 DSBF Filly Pace prelims, breeder/trainer Virginia Louthan scored a lifetime best 1:54.4 triumph with Spin Vision. With Wolfenden driving, the No Spin Zone-Davids Art brown filly won for the third time in eight outings. Riggins Route (Callahan) was second in front of early leader and race favourite Love Forbidden (Morgan).
In the other $20,000 prelim, Purrfect Bags won for the sixth straight time via a 1:55.2 mile. Vic Kirby piloted the unbeaten Roddys Bags Again-Purrfectly Bad daughter for trainer Jim King and owner Joann King. Brians Thunder (Jim Morand) was next with Ohbytheway (Eddie Davis, Jr.) the third-place finisher.
The second $20,000 DSBF leg for freshman male pacers is set for next Sunday. After two legs, the top eight point-getters meet in a $100,000 final on December 7.
(Dover Downs)