DOVER, Del.— The final $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 3-Year-Old final of the year tops the closing program of Dover Downs' 47th season with the handing out of leading driver, trainer and Horse of the Meet awards on Thursday, April 14 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p m.
Cut The Beach, owned by Henry Faragalli III, Jeff Rubin, Trevor Johnson and Joe Thomson, has a three-race win streak going. His last two in $20,000 DSBF prelims with last week's victory beating John's Dream and Tim Tetrick by a nose.
Chuck Perry owns and trains the ridgling that won last Fall's $100,000 final as well as being the Virginia championship two-year-old pacer. Cavalli Pazzi Stable's rapidly improving Casino Bags Anso, a strong second in his first pelim closed strongly to win last Thursday. Faragalli and partners Bay Pond and Nanticoke Racing also have a good chance with Next Success, from the rail with Jim Morand in the bike.
Trainer-driver John MacKinnon's JW Renegade, owned by Russ McKinnon closed with a rush last time finishing third but only a nose away from an upset. Dorothy and Chris Conner's Hail To The Master, driven by Art Stafford Jr., has been racing well and is shacked by post 8. Winbak Farm's All Artist with veteran reinsman Jeff Fout has been knocking. Don Marine's Power To Perform with red-hot Tony Morgan has a pair of seconds to show and must be regarded a factor from post 2.
In the $20,000 DSBF consolation pace. Carter Racing's Rusty Carter (Callahan), Rich Lombardo and Howard Taylor's Stellar City (Tetrick) and Pam Wagner's Canthelpbutwin (Allan Davis) lead eight to post.
During the card, the 2015-2016 Horse of the Meet, Leading Driver and Leading Trainer awards will be presented.
On meet closing day, watch the races and enjoy the Harness Racing Buffet while dining in the Winners Circle Restaurant. Call 302-674-4600 for reservations.
$100,000 DSBF Final to Cicada's Song Wednesday
Trainer-driver Carlo Poliseno’s strategy came through as Cicada’s Song caught race favorite Epic Smash in the closing strides for a1:57.3 triumph in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-Year-Old Filly Final at Dover Downs on Wednesday, April 13.Somebody AS upset Gural Hanover to win the $36,000 Open Handicap trot.
Epic Smash was odds-on favorite from the rail following two straight wire-to-wire victories, while second choice Cicada’s Song had post 3.
“My plan was to leave fast and find room second behind Epic Smash. I liked my chances sitting behind him when we reached the stretch,” remembered Poliseno.
And that’s the way the race unfolded. Cicada’s Song, led from post 8 in the November 2-year-old DSBF championship, and was on top until the closing strides finishing second.
Pat Berry cut out all the fractions driving Epic Smash, almost flawlessly, until the last steps to finish second. Chestnut Chic (George Dennis) off at 51-1 came on to finish third.
Cicada’s Song is truly a Jane Dunavant-homebred. Her sire is Dusty Winner and her dam Koala Kat, both owned and raced for Mrs. Dunavant for a number of starts at Dover Downs several years ago. Since the Dunavant’s resides in Virginia, Cicada’s Song is that state’s trotting champion as well.
Tim Tetrick left fast with Somebody AS to take the early lead in the $36,000 Open Preferred Handicap trot and controlled the race from there. Andrew McCarty moved to the outside driving Gural Hanover in front of the grandstand and continued up on the outside finally reaching the leader at the three quarters. Around the final turn, Gural Hanover had a slight lead on the outside, but Somebody AS retook the front and pulled off for a 1:53.2 success. Awsome Valley (Tony Morgan) finished third.
Kjell Johansson and ACI Stuteri AB own Somebody AS, an altered son of Striking Sabra-Noblesse AS trained by Anette Lorentzon, who won for the fourth time in nine starts in 2016. The win was the 25th lifetime for the newly minted half- million dollar winner whose bankroll stands at $500,063.
Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs where there is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner's Circle Restaurant and for those planning to stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs