Upset in DSBF 2nd leg

HARRINGTON, DE. – Four $20,000 divisions for the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund's (DSBF) 3-year-old trotting stakes were contested on the Wednesday Harrington Raceway program and upsets were abound.

The first split for fillies saw a major upset as Shirley Shand's Blue Carats ($86.20, Roger Plante Jr.) notched a win in 2:01 over Orabelle and Stella A. Heavily favored Orabelle, the 2-year-old DSBF champ, led most of the way from post 8 before retreating near the three-quarters.

For Blue Carats, it was her first lifetime win for trainer John Rinnier. The Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst filly is a full sister to former DSBF champ Star Sapphire, who was owned by the late Marv Bachrad, the long-time head of publicity at Dover Downs who is in the Communicators Corner of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

Ben Brooks' Master Of Mine ($6.80, Victor Kirby) was a dominant winner in the first division for colts and geldings as he cruised to a 1:58.3 score for trainer John Wilkerson. The Master Lavec-Dilly Dally Delia gelding was an open length winner over Rocky Bomber and Chauffeur. He improved to 2-for-2 on the year and completed a sweep of his eliminations. Race favorite Touch Of White went off stride early in the mile.

The 2nd split for colts and geldings saw Jane Dunavant's Riddle Me This ($24.60, Ross Wolfenden) score a 1:58.3 win over Air Time and Zulu. The Dusty Winner-Koala Kat gelding led most of the way in his first career win for trainer Carlo Poliseno.

Providence West Inc's Alert ($46.20, Kim Vincent) won the remaining filly division on the front end in 1:59.1 over Dabigspooky Bootah and Emmys Mayflower. Trained by Vincent, the Xactly Hanover-Mitsou Hanover filly was a wire-to-wire winner, collecting her second career win. Emmy's Mayflower, last week's elimination winner and 2-year-old DSBF champ, was the 1-to-9 favorite.

The $100,000 DSBF trotting finals will be contested on July 8.

In the overnight feature, the $11,000 Open Trot, Brian Carsey, Adam Friedland and Casey Myers Bluebird Jesse ($5.40, Allan Davis) triumphed in 1:55.3 over Photo Bomber and Gillie The Kid. Trained by Jim King Jr., "Jesse" registered his third win of the year and first at Harrington.. Kirby had three wins on the program. Vincent, Davis and Ross Wolfenden each had driving doubles.

by Matt Sparacino, for Harrington Raceway