Horseplayers looking for a St. Patrick's Day hunch bet found a pot of gold after Saints Design, a three-year-old trotting filly by Delaware sire St Patricks Day, pulled off a 25-1 upset in an elimination of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Late Closer at Bally's Dover on Monday, March 17.
The lightly raced Saints Design, driven by Corey Callahan, needed the luck of the Irish to have any chance to win the $14,286 race. Favourite Kats Fancy (Tony Morgan), at 6-5 odds, and Lady Burg (Pat Berry), at 8-5 odds, rushed to the top and appeared to have the race locked up until they both went off stride before the quarter. Song Master (Cody Poliseno) inherited the lead past the opening quarter, which was clocked in 29 seconds flat, and trotted on top to the half in :58.3 while Saints Design enjoyed the dream trip from the pocket.
The remainder of the field was struggling to stay in contention and Song Master started to become leg weary passing the three-quarters in 1:29.3. Turning for home, Saints Design maneuvered off the pylons from the pocket and challenged a tiring Song Master for an improbable lead. Saints Design won by 2-3/4 lengths, trotting her mile in a career-best 2:00.4. Marino Bluestone (Jim Morand), who had spotted the field more than 10 lengths at the start, closed for second while Song Master settled for third.
After making just four starts as a freshman, the season-debuting Saints Design rewarded her hunch backers with a $53.80 payout for a $2 win ticket.
The two-time winning homebred filly is owned and trained by Virginia Louthan of Felton, Delaware.
(With files from Bally's Dover)