It was a game of “come and get me” in both of Sunday’s Betsy Ross eliminations at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack, with Four Starzz Meliss and Darlins Delight coming out on top in their $40,000 assignments
for their respective French Canadian pilots.
Luc Ouellette made the stateside road trip, and it proved to be a profitable one as he clicked with the Glenn Lalonde-trained Four Starzz Meliss in the first elimination. The eight-year-old Cambest miss, who was sent off as the 6-5 choice in the five-mare affair, stopped the clock in 1:51.3.
In typical Four Starzz Meliss fashion, the classy mare sped the field through panels of :27.3, :55.3 and 1:23.2 before finishing them off with a final quarter clocked in :28.1. Arts Diva sat the pocket trip throughout the mile and finished second to the wrapped-up winner while My Little Dragon, who was making her first start of the season, rallied to pick up the show dough.
"I was a little worried there - Gelrod [Monte Gelrod trainer of Arts Diva] always has his horses on their toes, but she [Four Starzz Meliss] was good enough to hold up," said driver Luc Ouellette. "She's a classy mare, and she raced well considering everything; not racing for a month and shipping in."
Jenny Lalonde of Guelph and John Nother of Brampton, ON share ownership on the 39-time winner, who has assembled a 6-0-1 record in her first eight starts of the season. She has banked $138,800 this year and more than $740,000 in her career.
Yannick Gingras also used front-end tactics to find his way to victory lane with Darlins Delight, who steamrolled over five female foes in the second split. The daughter of Bettors Delight halted the teletimer in 1:51.4.
It was an easy decision for Gingras to roll his charge to the front, especially after the heavily favoured Martha Maxine made a costly break getting away from the gate when doubled up by driver Andy Miller.
Darlins Delight was in complete command every step of the way through panels of :28, :56.4 and 1:24.4 and her :27-second final quarter speed proved to be the knock out punch. Southwind Tempo came on late to grab the runner-up award while Martha Maxine rallied to grab third prize despite making the early miscue.
"It absolutely made a difference knowing Martha Maxine made a break," said driver Yannick Gingras. "I realized Ron [Pierce driving Apache Dame] was moving into the pocket, I looked back and saw Martha Maxine on a break. I got to rate some nice fractions, and she [Darlins Delight] sprinted home nicely."
Jeff Stafford conditions the homebred winner for White Birch Farm of Allentown, NJ. It was her second win of the season and the 29th of her career. She boasts earnings in excess of $2.7 million.
The top four finishers from Sunday's elimination will advance to the , w$250,000 final of the Betsy Ross, which is scheduled for Sunday, April 26 at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack.
(With quotes from Harrah's Chester Racetrack)