Bobbys Grace launched a three-wide bid into the far turn to narrowly edge Git Goin in the final metres of the $150,685 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) Final for three-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Bally's Dover, giving trainer Vince Copeland a sweep of the exactor.
Russell Foster took Bobbys Grace to last in the eight-horse field as Les Givens trainees Bella Artiste (Jim Morand) and Little Miss Peyton (Corey Callahan) duelled through a :27 first quarter. Bella Artiste pushed clear of her stablemate off the first turn and faced pressure from the uncovered Mad Anne (Jason Thompson) heading to the :55.2 half as Copeland angled Git Goin second-over out of fifth and Foster pointed Bobbys Grace fourth-over into a stacked outer tier.
Upon reaching the backstretch, Mad Anne faded sharply, forcing Git Goin to circle three-wide in pursuit of the leader. Third in the three-wide flow midway up the backstretch, Bobbys Grace lost her cover as Git Goin pushed Bella Artiste through three-quarters in 1:24.3, but she continued to advance through the far turn and joined the top pair just before the eighth pole. With Bella Artiste softened up turning for home, Git Goin grinded to a brief mid-stretch lead, but Bobbys Grace found enough late to nab her stablemate by a head at the winning post for a lifetime-best 1:54.4 victory. Bella Artiste was a game third, beaten by a length.
Michael Baio owns Bobbys Grace, a daughter of Roddys Bags Again-Casino Bus who paid $13.80 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice. The filly has won five races and earned $130,097 in purses from 25 career starts.
In the $27,397 DSBF consolation, Proper Lady lived up to her 3-5 billing, seizing the early lead from Tilted Crown (Allan Davis) and keeping an outside bid from Mornin Merle (Tim Tetrick) a neck at bay to win in 1:55 for driver Tony Morgan. Mornin Merle was second over Tilted Crown. Carlo Poliseno trains the Proper Respect-Sidney filly, who paid $3.20 to win, for owner/breeder Jane Dunavant.
Ragtime Red made it back-to-back victories in the $34,247 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace.
There was a three-horse scramble for position in the first quarter, with Jett Propelled (Thompson) gliding into the pocket and the 2-5 favourite Ragtime Red retreating to third along the pylons. Huntress (Allan Davis) was parked to the opening quarter in :26.4 to grab the lead, then continued uncontested to the half in :55.2. Ragtime Red angled to the outside for Tim Tetrick on the backstretch, and the battle was on as the six-year-old Huntress and the sophomore Ragtime Red matched strides to the three-quarters in 1:23.2. Ragtime Red powered to the lead in the lane and drew off to win 1-1/4 lengths, pacing the mile in 1:51.2. Jett Propelled passed Huntress in the stretch for place.
Ragtime Red is a homebred daughter of Getitoffyourchest-Red High Heels for David Banks. Don Brittingham trains the filly, an 18-time winner from 30 career starts with $401,846 in earnings. The three-year-old paid $2.80 for the win.
Thursday will be the final night of live racing at Dover before the traditional Christmas break. The 15-race program will feature the conclusion of the 2025 DSBF season, with the $110,000 USD championship for three-year-old male pacers carded as the eighth race. First post is 4:30 p.m. Live harness racing will return on Monday, Dec. 29.
(DSBF & Dover Downs)