The photo-finish camera was needed to determine Purrfect Bags winner of Tuesday’s $20,000 Filly and Mare Open pace at Dover Downs.
After 28-1 shot Elliesjet N (Jonathan Roberts) flew away from the gate to take the lead and continued to lead seven rivals until mid-stretch when both Purrfect Bags (Vic Kirby) and Empress Deo (Allan Davis) zoomed down the lane side-by-side until Purrfect Bags pocked her nose in front at the wire to determine the outcome of the week’s top distaff event. Empress Deo and Elliesjet N were second and third in the 1:52.2 performance.
The Purrfect Bags victory - her 9th of the season in 19 starts for owner JoAnn Looney-King - avenged an odds-on favourite loss last week. Tim Tetrick drove the Roddys Bags Again-Purrfectly Bad four-year-old conditioned by meet-leading trainer Jim King. She has now won $129,195 this year and $499,542 lifetime.
Top trotters Glenferrie Dreamer, Theresademoninme and Il Mago vie in the Wednesday feature $20,000 Open trot on a 15-race card.
(With files from Dover Downs)