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Mavericks Missy (Roddy’s Bags Again) sat patiently off the pace and rolled to a harness racing victory in the $50,800 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund 2YO Filly Pace Final at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (March 29).
No Gel Nikki (Montrell Teague) was the aggressor and left fastest away from the starting gate. Spoiled Rotn Girl was parked in the two path and Kims Secret Search (Corey Callahan) was parked three wide as the filly trio reached the quarter in a hotly contested :27.3.
Kims Secret Search finally cleared the lead before the half. No Gel Nikki became stubborn and took the lead away from Kims Secret Search as the two rivals continued to battle to the half mile in :56.1.
No Gel Nikki opened up a length and a half advantage to the three quarters in 1:26.1.
Mavericks Missy and driver Russell Foster waited patiently for the dust to settle and launched their uncovered bid down the backstretch from last place.
Maverick’s Missy challenged No Gel Nikki for the lead past the three quarters and in the lane. No Gel Nikki dug in gamely but became leg weary in the late stages of the race. Mavericks Missy had all of the momentum and powered to the front and got the win by three quarters of a length in 1:57.2 and paid $16.40 for the win.
MAVERICKS MISSY REPLAY
It was a lifetime mark and the second win this year for Mavericks Missy, who is owned by 87-year-old Marion Andrew of Centerville, Maryland, who after the race claimed that “it was the thrill of a lifetime.” Mark Shahan Jr. is the trainer.
No Gel Nikki was second for trainer Clyde Francis. Kims Secret Search was third for trainer John Wilkerson.
Feeling Sweet (Sweet Lou) and driver Mike Cole were three-wide at the opening quarter mile in the 12th race $25,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace, but once they cleared to the lead there was no catching them.
Feeling Sweet cut fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.1 before holding the field at bay through the stretch to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:51.3. A Delightful Act N (Montrell Teague) was second with Dewitt For Josie (Jason Thompson) third.
Sent off as the race favorite, Feeling Sweet paid $3.80 to win. The six-year-old mare is trained by Joe Columbo for owners George and Tina Dennis Racing.
FEELING SWEET REPLAY
For complete race results, click here.
by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover
