Shes All Woman A Gutsy DSBF Prelim Winner

Pamela Wagner's homebred Shes All Woman sustained a long, uncovered bid into contention and then survived a stretch-long duel with pacesetter Just Pump It to emerge victorious in the lone $20,000 first-round preliminary event of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund series for three-year-old trotting fillies at Bally's Dover, held Monday.

Victor Kirby kept the 2-5 favourite reserved early, stalking from fourth while Miss Timber Wolf (driven by Kim Vincent) and Just Pump It (Art Stafford, Jr.) disputed a :30 first quarter. Just as Miss Timber Wolf cleared, Stafford retook from the pocket with Just Pump It and tried to bottom out the field, controlling a 1:00.1 half and opening up a six-length advantage on the backstretch. Meanwhile, Kirby set Shes All Woman into motion just before the half-mile pole, and she closed steadily to within a length of Just Pump It past three-quarters in 1:29.4.

Shes All Woman ground into a short lead coming off the home turn, but Just Pump It battled gamely to her inside the entirety of the stretch. Despite Just Pump It's valiant effort, Shes All Woman proved a neck the better, winning in 1:58.4. Miss Timber Wolf finished third, beaten 10 lengths.

John Wagner trains Shes All Woman, a 12-time winner with $234,780 in career earnings. The daughter of Anders Bluestone-Wark Woman paid $2.80 to win.

DSBF action continues Tuesday (Nov. 29) with two $20,000 first-round preliminary events for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings slated to open a 14-race program at Bally's Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m.

(Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)