Shes Pukka N wired the field in Wednesday night's (Dec. 15) $25,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover Downs.
Driver Tony Morgan sent Shes Pukka N where she is most comfortable, loose on the lead, to set fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:23. Soho Burning Love A, the 2-5 favourite, marched first-over out of fourth to draw alongside Shes Pukka N at the three-quarter pole, but the daughter of Betterthancheddar showed her grit and determination, not letting Soho Burning Love A move past her in the stretch and winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.4. Soho Burning Love A (Tim Tetrick) was a valiant second; Feeling Sweet (Mike Cole) benefited from a ground-saving journey to snag the show spot.
Brian Malone trains Shes Pukka N, who paid $6.00 to win, for Peter Paul Venturini.
Tim Tetrick had four wins on the card.
The Thursday (Dec. 16) card features four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund finals for three-year-olds, programmed as races four, six, eight and 10. First post on the pari-mutuel card is 4:30 p.m.
(with files from Dover Downs)