The Ben Stafford-trained and Ben Stafford-driven team won two of the three $20,000 first leg Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) prelims Monday at Dover Downs.
The biggest surprise of the three-year-old pacing filly division came when Blush With Pride out brushed 2012 champion Inittowinafortune in the closing strides of a 1:55.1 mile over a track labeled ‘sloppy.’ Owned by Ben Stafford and Winbak Farm, Blush With Pride, a daughter of Rustler Hanover-Jennas Joy, made her first start of the year a winning one. Inittowinafortune was second with Ally Wishes, who was the early leader, finishing third.
In the second DSBF prelim, Ben Stafford, Jr. came right back to complete the Daily Double by driving Joel and Diane Halpern’s homebred, Bags Of Stars. The daughter of Roddys Bags Again-CB Star stopped the teletimer in 1:56.4, with Dream N Ezy and Lookout Stokk Zone also finding their way into the top three.
Su Mar Racing and trainer Crissy Bier’s Women Rule, with Tim Tetrick in the bike, overcame starting from the outside and scored a1:56.2 triumph in the third $20,000 division. Grace Of An Angel was a tight second and KJs Caroline was third. The win by the Rustler Hanover-The Beastress filly was her fourth in her last five starts.
The second of two DSBF prelims are set for next Monday. Tuesday, two $20,000 DSBF sophomore filly trots are on the program.
(Dover Downs)