Another overwhelming favourite lived up to the hype on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Bally's Dover as Stephen Messick's homebred Misty Coast proved a handy 1:53.1 winner in the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) series final for three-year-old pacing fillies.
In line to Art Stafford Jr., 1-20 public choice Misty Coast asserted herself from post five at race’s outset, seating 122-1 outsider No Gel Nikki (Pat Berry) in the pocket through a :27.1 first quarter while She Is Risen (Corey Callahan) and Hold My Wine (Montrell Teague) tracked the top pair from their inside posts. Misty Coast rated a :56.3 half unchallenged before widening her lead up the backstretch. With three-eighths to go, No Gel Nikki began to severely gap the pocket and was overtaken for second by the first-over Hold My Wine, but Misty Coast maintained 2-1/2 lengths of clearance at three-quarters in 1:24.1. The Powerful Mist-Cruisinthecoast filly kept Hold My Wine well in her wake through the stretch, winning by 5-1/2 lengths, equalling her lifetime mark, and capping a series sweep. She Is Risen saved third, another 9-1/4 lengths in arrears.
Misty Coast, a 15-time winner with $297,550 in career earnings, is trained by Les Givens. She paid $2.10 to win.
The $20,000 consolation heat went to Direct Mist and driver Ross Wolfenden, who overcame severe traffic on the far turn to outlast a late charge from Spoiled Rotn Girl by two lengths in 1:58. Wayne Givens trains the Powerful Mist-Yankee Vista filly for owner-breeder Legacy Racing of Delaware.
Boudoir Hanover bests Open mares
Boudoir Hanover left out of the gate and did not look back en route to victory in the $26,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday night.
Boudoir Hanover and Tim Tetrick left from post seven, settled then brushed for the lead after being parked to the quarter in :27.1. Tae (Pat Berry) settled and watched all the action from the pocket. Boudoir Hanover was on a mission to avenge her earlier defeat last week. She continued on the lead reaching the half in :56 flat, a :28.4 second quarter. Incaseyoudidntknow (Jim Morand) moved first-up in front of the stands and approaching the half. Southwind Icenfire (Tony Morgan) shadowed second-over.
The bid by Incaseyoudidntknow, who had won five races in a row, may have taken its toll on her as she stalled. Boudoir Hanover, the 1-2 betting favourite, continued under a full head of steam and buzzed the three-quarters in 1:23.1, a :27.1 clicker.
At the top of the stretch, Tae, who had watched all the action along the pylons, pulled the pocket. Tae had her sights on Boudoir Hanover in deep stretch but could not gun her down. Feeling Sweet (Montrell Teague) had watched from the three-path but was served the same fate as Tae. Boudoir Hanover won confidently by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.1.
The Tony Alagna trainee paid $3 for the win. Tae finished second and Feeling Sweet was third. Incaseyoudidntknow had her five-race win streak come to an end and finished fifth.
Boudoir Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Bedroomconfessions) is owned by Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing LLC, Caviart Farms and D Plouffe And S Head.
Tetrick drove four winners on the card.
The 2023 DSBF season concludes on Thursday, Dec. 14 with the $110,000 series final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, which is carded the 10th event on a 15-race program at Bally’s Dover. The card also includes the $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace in the 12th race. First post is 4:30 p.m. EST.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Dover Downs)