Favourites prevailed in three of four $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) second-leg divisions for two-year-old trotters at Harrington Raceway on Wednesday evening (Sept. 25).
Rod Allen’s Zulu ($4, Allen) was a 2:02.2 winner to complete a sweep of his preliminaries for male trotters. The CR Commando gelding unleashed a powerful stretch kick after being shuffled back on the final turn to defeat Chauffeur, who set the fractions, in a tight photo finish. Shiloh was third. Zulu is also trained by Allen.
The first filly division also featured a repeat winner, as Ed Kimmel and Donald Wiest’s Orabelle ($2.20, Tony Morgan) held off Blue Carats and Emmys Mayflower for her second straight win in a new lifetime best of 2:01.3. The Keystone Activator filly is trained by Wiest.
Breakaway Racing’s Touch Of White ($2.20, Corey Callahan) was a 2:01.3 winner in the final division for male trotters over Master Of Mine and Riddle Me This. The Keystone Activator gelding followed up his six-length win last week with another front-end triumph for trainer Nick Callahan.
The only upset from the eliminations was in the final filly split, as Mark King’s Dabigspooky Bootah ($14.20, Victor Kirby) was a 2:03.2 winner over Happy To Do It and Stella A for her owner-trainer. The Hes Spooky-sired filly made a bold first-over brush and edged clear of leader Happy To Do It in the stretch for her first career win.
The top eight point earners from both sexes of pacers and trotters will return to compete in $100,000 final events on Oct. 2.
In the overnight feature, the $20,000 Open Trot, Mike Hall, CTC Stable, LA Express Stable and Tamara Williams’ In Secret ($2.80, Callahan) was an impressive 1:54.1 winner over Bands Houdini and Murmur Hanover. Trained by Hall, it was his 34th career win.
Allan Davis had three wins on the card. Callahan, Tony Morgan, Russell Foster and Ross Wolfenden each had two wins.
(Harrington Raceway)