Misty Coast continued to prove herself as Delaware's top rookie pacing filly, cruising to a 1:56.1 win in her $20,000 first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminary event on Wednesday (Nov. 9) at Bally's Dover.
Following wins in the $100,000 final of the DSBF Harrington series on Oct. 11 and against older conditioned company in a lifetime-best 1:54.1 on Nov. 2, Misty Coast recorded her seventh victory of her career in easy fashion, taking the first of three splits.
No Gel Nikki sprinted two lengths clear at race's outset, only for Art Stafford Jr. to vacate the pocket with Misty Coast before the first turn. The Powerful Mist-Cruisinthecoast filly cleared to the lead before completing the :28.3 first quarter and faced nary a challenge from that point. After rating a :59 half, she accelerated up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:27.3 — and while No Gel Nikki kept pace, their other four rivals tired considerably. Misty Coast finally dismissed her pocket rival in the final eighth, drawing clear handily to win by 4-1/4 lengths over No Gel Nikki. I Dareutoticmeoff rallied belatedly for third over Hold My Wine, who tired after mounting an uncovered bid on the backstretch.
Les Givens trains Misty Coast, who has amassed $106,300 in career earnings, for owner-breeder Stephen Messick.
Stafford capped a DSBF driving double in the final division, teaming with first-time starter Killer Stripes to post a 1:57.3 debut score. The daughter of Badlands Hanover-Tiger Style rode the pocket behind even-money choice Ezycurethrough a :58 half, pulled the pocket with five-sixteenths to go and struck the front at three-quarters in 1:28. After putting Ezycure away, Killer Stripes dug deep to stave a sustained challenge from Clearlydreamy by a half-length. Spoiled Rotn Girl overcame traffic on the far turn and dove to the open stretch to just miss the runner-up spot.
Trainer Andrew Stafford co-owns the Winbak Farm-bred Killer Stripes, who paid $6.20 to win, with Thomas Ireland and Bonnie Benson.
Direct Mist completed the trio of first-round winners with a gritty 1:57.1 performance in the second division. The Powerful Mist-Yankee Vista filly was innermost of four early leavers, and driver Trae Porter used pole position to protect the lead with her through a :28.1 first quarter. With all six of her rivals behind her in single file, Direct Mist pulled the half back to :59, but was forced to accelerate when Kims Secret Search mounted a first-over push to take second from a gapping Spicy Tuna nearing three quarters in 1:27.3. Despite the sustained challenge on her outside, Direct Mist prevailed, keeping Kims Secret Search a half-length at bay while driven out. Chatty Kathleen remained a detached third, 8-1/4 lengths farther behind after losing cover.
Wayne Givens trains two-time winner Direct Mist, a Legacy Racing of Delaware homebred who paid $2.10 to win.
The second preliminary round in the current DSBF series for two-year-old pacing fillies is slated for next Wednesday (Nov. 16), and the eight highest point earners from both preliminary legs will meet in a $100,000 final on Nov. 23.
Milieu Hanover benefitted from a contested front and coasted to victory in the Mares Open Pace.
Fire Start Hanover left fast and protected the pylon position from the start. Shes Pukka N and Grace Rocks were parked two and three deep, respectively, into the first turn. The duel continued past the half. The first quarter scorched the beam in :27.
Fire Start Hanover remained stubborn and continued to park the early challengers, Shes Pukka N and Grace Rocks. The three-ply battle continued to the half in :57.3. The three quarters were reached in 1:26.2.
The backfield was in motion and started to converge on the cutthroat pace. Milieu Hanover, Feeling Sweet and the even-odds favourite, Majorca N began circling three- and four-wide at the top of the stretch. Milieu Hanover was able to clear late in the lane and won by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.3. She paid $22.60 to win.
Milieu Hanover is owned by Devita Racing Stable Inc. and C. Giaccio of New York, as well as D.R. Hamm of Delaware. Chuck Crissman Jr. trains to daughter of Betting Line. Alan Davis sat in the sulky.
Majorca N finished a fast-closing second for trainer Dylan Davis. Fire Start Hanover took no prisoners and faded to third for trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman.
Anticipation awaits on Thursday (Nov. 8) as Bally’s Dover hosts four Matron Stakes for three-year-olds. The races are scheduled for the sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th races on the 15-race betting card. The 12th race is named in honour of W.E. “Hap” Hansen, the Administrator/General Manager Brandywine Raceway.
On Thursday (Nov. 8), there will be a Pentafecta carryover of $5,391 on the 15th race. An early Pick 4 carryover of $1,820 and a Pick 5 carryover of $1,002. Post time is 4:30 p.m. (EST) at Bally’s Dover.
(with files from DSBF and Dover Downs)