DOVER, Del.— Favorites – I Got Spunk, My Fire Cloud Too and Penny Paratrooper – coasted to a harness racing victory in three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Three-Year-Old Filly trot 2nd leg preliminaries on Monday, March 30 at Dover Downs. Eddie Davis Jr. and Foulk Stables had three wins each.
I Got Spunk, piloted by Brett Miller, scored the fastest win of the three divisions. The Super Punk-Gogetitdun bay owned and trained by Leigh Raymer of the Tyler Raymer Stable was never in doubt notching a 1:57.2 lifetime best clocking. She has won three of five this year and five of 11 lifetime, with only twice being off the board. For the second-straight prelim, Silence Is Bliss (Eddie Davis Jr.) finished second, Princess EB (Vic Kirby) made up for breaking stride last time, by finishing third.
Rich Lombardo and JJ&M Stable's My Fire Cloud Too won for the first time as Eddie Davis Jr. piloted a 2:00 front-end victory in the second $20,000 DSBF prelim. The daughter of CR Commando-Winbak Flame outlasted Dancing Shirley (George Dennis), second, and Mila Bella (Allan Davis) third.
Penny Paratrooper extended her win streak to five in-a-row and seven wins and a third in eight races holding off Callmemza (Jonathan Roberts) in the most contentious prelim. Ross Wolfenden drove the CR Commando-CR Penny Lane filly owned and trained by Carlo Poliseno. She has now banked $119,500 in DSBF events. Cuddle Punk (Allan Davis) made a misstep at the start and quickly rallied to race most of the rest of the mile on the outside and still finish third.
The top eight-point getters in filly trot prelims return next Monday for $100,000 DSBF Final
On the regular card, in a $15,500 4&5-year-Old mares Winners-Over pace, Legacy Racing's Empress Deo, driven by Jim Morand, revenged a second-place finish last time to Fashion Showdown (Brett Miller) who rallied from last in mid-backstretch to take second in the 1:52 mile. Quotable Quotes (Ben Stafford Jr.) was the show horse. Empress Deo is a Rocknroll Hanover-Little Miss K four-year-old who won for the fourth time this year in nine starts with two seconds and two thirds winning $53,363.
Valery, driven by Jonathan Roberts, won for the sixth time this year in nine starts, reducing her lifetime record to 1:51.4 taking a $14,000 Mares Winners-Over pace. The win by the Dream Away-Veneer mare, was Foulk Stables' second victory of the day. Hearts N Flowers (Allan Davis) was a strong second in front of the late closing Star Keeper (Wolfenden).
Foulk Stables' also made the winners circle with Mystra and Marcus Miller driving. The 10-year-old Art Major-Pastrami Hanover mare won for the third straight time. It was her 48th career victory in 203 starts and raised her earnings to $595,971. Together Again N (Tony Morgan) was runner-up. San Fran Lady N (Wolfenden) was third.
Eddie Davis Jr. had a driving triple and Foulk Stables had three training wins. Trainer Trish Foulk had a double. Trainer-owner Tim Torbert, drivers Brett Miller and Jim Morand had two wins each while Tony Morgan, who had two winners, was belatedly presented with a 15,000-wins plaque, during the card.
GO BYEM, POLITICAL FOE LEAD $20,000 DSBF COLT TROTPRELIMS
Go Byem and Political Foe, impressive winners last week of $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) preliminaries meet in 2nd leg divisions for colt and gelding trotters. A $20,000-$25,000 Claiming pace heads the regular card on Tuesday March 31 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
The DSBF events race as the daily double. Go Byem raced big in his first official start last week and came through with an impressive 1:57.4 victory with trainer-driver Les Givens teaming with Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing for the win. Egosnattitudes, owned by trainer Bib Roberts, Graham Grace and M&W stables, cannot be overlooked. Jonathan Roberts spent the middle fractions on the outside and still finished a strong second, beaten only a half-length.
Don Marine and trainer Bob Shahan’s Political Cash led through most of his DSBF race with Allan Davis but was caught in the stretch, finishing third. Tom O. Lail’s homebred Audie Mo made a good maiden start and closed for a third. Ed Kimmel and Don and David West’s Perfect Vangogh (Tony Morgan) trotted in 1:58 but could only garner a fourth. Lucky Dynasty, owned by Pam Wagner and Scott Woogen, with Vic Kirby in the bike, completes the starters.
Political Foe (Eddie Dennis), after a strong 1:57.4 win last Tuesday, is the one to beat in the second $20,000 prelim. The soph gelding has won $122,625 for owners Stephanie and Brian Cassell. The second-place finisher last week, George Brem and trainer Bob Shahan’s Save The Night (George Dennis) drew outside post 6. The other contenders are Carol Atkinson and Bill Masterson’s Circle M RJ (Montrell Teague) Winbak Farms’ Win Power (Jeff Fout) winner of last November’s DSBF consolation, Lesa Peters’ Goin Commando (Bret Brittingham) and Gogh Mini Van (Eddie Davis Jr.) racing for Susan Dunham and trainer Linda MacDonald, complete the field.
Brees Creek (Corey Callahan), a winner last week and with three wins in his last four starts, leads eight in the $20,000-$25,000 4&5-Year-Old Claiming Handicap pace.For the second straight week, Curran Racing’s PL Hoofhearted (Vic Kirby) drew the rail. Tina Clark and Kovach Stables’ Artistic Director (Daryl Bier) raced second the mile last time. Frank Chick’s Touchdown Mindale (Dennis) has returned to the claiming ranks.
The rest of the lineup includes Tim Mumford’s Middle Aged Crazy (Tony Morgan) CC Racing and Tim Tetrick’s Bettor And Bold (Eddie Davis Jr.), Wayne Long’s Militia Man (Allan Davis), a winner of two of his last three, and Just Bettor (Kirby), owned by Ken Wood and Minisink Farms, from his now customary outside post.
Monday through Thursday racing starts at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are “dark days. The 2014-2015 meet comes to a close April 9.
Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and for those planning to stay at Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad