Jo Ann Looney-King's Curtsyforpurrseco ($2.40) became the lone two-year-old pacing filly with a shot at sweeping the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series at Bally's Dover after winning her $20,000 second-round preliminary division on Wednesday (Nov. 15) in a lifetime best 1:56.4.
Curtsyforpurrseco, who squared off against fellow first-round winners Smalltown Bad Girl and Designs On You in the first of three second-round splits, was parked in third early after Smalltown Bad Girl (Victor Kirby) secured the lead over American Marvel (George Dennis) through a :28.1 first quarter. Tim Tetrick drove on with Curtsyforpurrseco with a lap to go, and the Roddys Bags Again-Purrfectly Bad filly strode clear and controlled middle splits of :58.3 and 1:28.1. After rebuffing a first-over challenge from Designs On You (Allan Davis) through the far turn, Curtsyforpurrseco evaded a late rally from runner-up Smalltown Bad Girl to win by a length. Designs On You faded to third.
Jim King Jr. trains the Winbak Farm-bred Curtsyforpurrseco, whose fifth career win brought her total earnings to $49,771.
In the second division, Bad Nella Monella ($10.60) and Ross Wolfenden endured an eventful journey en route to a maiden-breaking 1:58.1 score over 3-5 favourite Slipinsidewayz (Victor Kirby). The daughter of Badlands Hanover-Nellas Bus sprinted clear to a 2-1/2-length lead in the first sixteenth before yielding to Grace Omalley (Tony Morgan) at the completion of a :28.3 first quarter. Up the backstretch, Slipinsidewayz surged out of midfield into the lead, and Wolfenden angled Bad Nella Monella out of a failing pocket to protect second at three-quarters in 1:29.1. Bad Nella Monella then closed a three-length gap through the final three-sixteenths and lunged to just nab Slipinsidewayz in the final stride. Salma (Pat Berry) was third.
Trainer Andrew Stafford owns Bad Nella Monella, who has earned $16,400 in five starts, with Bonnie Benson, Thomas Ireland and Brian Martin.
Bellas Dream ($3.20) and Tony Morgan also won in 1:58.1, brushing from third to clear Jett Propelled (Art Stafford Jr.) with a lap to go before parrying an outside bid from Makemymommaproud (Eric Davis) up the backstretch and evading Jett Propelled by 2-1/4 lengths in the final division. Classic Diamond (Corey Callahan) was a ground-saving third.
Steve LeBlanc trains Bellas Dream, a two-time winner in 11 starts with $46,230 in the bank, for LeBlanc Racing Inc., Count De Money Stable, William Lutz Jr. and Douglas Johnson.
The eight fillies who qualified for the $110,000 Ramona Hubbard DSBF final, to take place next Wednesday (Nov. 22), are as follows: Curtsyforpurrseco, Smalltown Bad Girl, Bad Nella Monella, Bellas Dream, Designs On You, Jet Propelled, American Marvel and Slipinsidewayz.
Feeling Sweet surged late to win the $25,000 Fillies & Mares Winners-Over/Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday night.
Driver Tony Morgan launched Tae from post eight and rumbled to the quarter in :26.2. The 2-5 betting favourite, Feeling Sweet, gladly accepted the pocket trip with Tim Tetrick in the early stages. Tae held an uncontested lead at the halfway point in :55.1. Misty Coast and Art Stafford Jr. pulled from fourth to lead the charge first-over and engage the leader at three-quarters in 1:23.2. Feeling Sweet vacated the pocket on the far turn before tipping out three-wide and surged home with a :28.4 final quarter to score the victory by a length-and-a-half in 1:52.2. Misty Coast held for second, with My Kiwi Lady N and Trae Porter rallying for third. Feeling Sweet paid $2.80 for the win.
Trained by Joseph Columbo, Feeling Sweet is owned by George and Tina Dennis Racing of Wyoming Delaware. The six-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Feel Life notched her seventh victory in 28 seasonal outingd and has now banked $585,170 for her career.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, there will be two $35,000 Progress Pace elimination races for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The first four finishers in the official order of finish of the two elimination races will return for the $260,000 Progress Pace final on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The 15-race Thursday night card also features the $110,000 DSBF final for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers set to go as race 12 on the card. The Thursday card will get underway with a first post of 4:30 p.m at Bally's Dover.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund & Bally's Dover)