Sonofa Sizzle edged Smoking Joey to win Thursday’s $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final for three-year-old filly pacers in a stakes record-breaking time of 1:50.2 at Dover Downs.
Corey Callahan rushed Smokin Joey away from the starting gate to beat KJ Ben (Art Stafford, Jr.) to the front with race favourite Sonofa Sizzle and Vic Kirby getting away third. When the field reached the half in :54.1, Kirby sent Sonofa Sizzle up on the outside and initiated a two-horse battle for the lead. In the lane, Sonofa Sizzle edged to the front and to victory in 1:50.2, the fastest time recorded by a Delaware-sired sophomore in DSBF competition. Smoking Joey was a game second in front of Byby Landon and Tim Tetrick.
Floridian Mike White owns the Life Sizzles-JK Lady Like colt who pedigree shows relationship to 2014 Harness Horse of the Year JK Shesalady. Josh Green trained the three-year-old who now is undefeated in three starts this year and whose record shows seven wins in 13 races with three seconds and a third. He has now banded $70,000 this year and $185,516 in his short two-season career.
Trainer Shawn Hanley’s Bobby The Greek, in only his second lifetime start, racked up a 1:52 mile to win the $20,000 DSBF consolation. The Artzina-Anastasia Hanover gelding was followed by Da Chief (Jonathan Roberts) second, and Quick Art (Jim Morand), third.
Just A Jolt, an ultra-consistent five-year-old son of Village Jolt-Just Wait Kate set all the speed en route to a career-best clocking of 1:49.2 score in the $32,500 Preferred/Handicap pace.
Vic Kirby took the gelding right to the front in a speedy :26 seconds and then was in control the rest of the mile, pacing the last panel in :26.4 to ensure his second win of the year in 11 races with four seconds and two thirds. Bandolito came from last in the six-horse field and came on strongly but could not overcome Just A Jolt’s advantage in deep stretch. Jebswesternshark was third for George Dennis.
Jim King trains the speedball for owner Janet Hudson.
(With files from Dover Downs)