Winter weather was threatening in the evening sky but the young harness racing trotters didn’t seem to care at Dover Downs on Wednesday.
The first filly event was non-wagering. BELLA’S PARTY PUNK (Super Punk-Nubella) driven by Art Stafford, Jr and trained by a jubilant Shae Vandervort ,won by half a length over STAR TIME (bred by Marv Bachrad) in 2:04.2.
Race 1 (2nd division) saw the Harrington winner DISCO SOLIEL (CR Commando-CR Penny Lane) dance from gate to wire for driver Carlo Poliseno and owner Rod Allen. DARK DUTCHESS was a half-length back for the place in 2:03.4.
Race 2 was the first division of the colts and geldings and it was RICH N ROYAL (Yankee Royalty-Adore Eleanor) for trainer/driver, Kim Vincent and owner Bart Cavanagh’s Providence West of Media, PA.
The time was 2:01.2 and it was the Maiden win for Rich N Royal. A neck back in 2nd was DR GRINCH.
Second division of the boys was EMBRACE THE GRIND (Keystone Activator-My Embrace) in 2:03 for driver Jonathan Roberts and owner/trainer Bobby Glassmeyer. It was his 4th victory in five starts. Five lengths back was SAY GESUNDHEIT.
Round 2 will be next Wednesday, November 21th, the night before the Thanksgiving holiday. The final will be contested on Thursday, November 29th in conjunction with Dover Downs Signature event, the “Hap Hansen Progress Pace” named for the late Brandywine Raceway President.
by Judy Davis-Wilson, for the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund