The final round of eliminations for the first leg of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Stakes for three-year-olds wrapped up Wednesday at Harrington Raceway.
After eliminations for pacers took place earlier in the week, the spotlight was on the trotters on Wednesday as two $20,000 divisions for colts and two for fillies went postward.
Stop The Jade Farm’s Bellas Spunkypunk ($2.80, Tony Morgan) won the first division for colts and geldings in 2:02.2. Trained by Aaron Lambert, the win was the third in 13 lifetime starts for the son of Super Punk. Rush Linbo was second while Smoke Monster finished third.
Art Stafford and Art Stafford Jr.’s Royal Briefing ($75, Art Stafford Jr.) sprung an upset in the second division. The Political Briefing gelding set all the fractions from post eight and was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:59.2 over Solo Command and Triple Command.
William Moffett’s Country Romance ($11, Allan Davis) was victorious in the first filly division after gaining down the passing lane late for a narrow win over Starlit Eyes in 2:00. The Giant Hit filly notched her sixth lifetime win for trainer and co-owner Moffett.
Bosston Chevel ($11.40, George Dennis) took advantage of an early break from favourite Luscious Leigh and prevailed in 2:03.4 in the remaining filly division. Embrace Peace was second while Sugar Time finished third. Trained by co-owner Bob Shahan for Don Marine, it was the first lifetime win for the daughter of Don Boss Vita.
(With files from Harrington Raceway)