Trainer/driver Carlo Poliseno’s strategy worked out as Cicadas Song caught race favourite Epic Smash in the closing strides for a 1:57.3 triumph in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Three-Year-Old Filly Trot Final at Dover Downs on Wednesday, April 13.
Epic Smash was odds-on favourite from the rail following two straight wire-to-wire victories, while second choice Cicadas Song had post three.
“My plan was to leave fast and find room second behind Epic Smash. I liked my chances sitting behind her when we reached the stretch,” remembered Poliseno.
And that’s the way the race unfolded. Pat Berry cut out all the fractions (:27.4, :58.2, 1:27.4) driving Epic Smash, almost flawlessly, until the last steps to finish second. Triple Bottom Line (Jeff Fout) finished three and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Cicadas Song is truly a Jane Dunavant-homebred. Her sire is Dusty Winner and her dam Koala Kat, both owned and raced for Mrs. Dunavant for a number of starts at Dover Downs several years ago. Since the Dunavants reside in Virginia, Cicadas Song is that state’s trotting champion as well.
Tim Tetrick left fast with Somebody AS to take the early lead in the $36,000 Open Preferred Handicap Trot and controlled the race from there. Andrew McCarthy moved to the outside driving Gural Hanover in front of the grandstand and continued up on the outside finally reaching the leader at the three-quarters. Around the final turn, Gural Hanover had a slight lead on the outside, but Somebody AS retook the front and pulled off for a 1:53.2 success. Awsome Valley (Tony Morgan) finished third.
Kjell Johansson and ACI Stuteri AB own Somebody AS, an altered son of Striking Sahbra-Noblesse AS trained by Anette Lorentzon, who won for the fourth time in nine starts in 2016. The win was the 25th lifetime for the newly minted half- million dollar earner.
The Dover Downs 47th season comes to a close on Thursday with a $100,000 DSBF Three-Year-Old Male Pace Final featuring the top eight point-earners after two preliminary legs. Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Dover Downs)