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DOVER, Del. — Another overwhelming favorite lived up to the hype on Wednesday (Dec. 13) at Bally’s Dover as Stephen Messick’s homebred Misty Coast (Powerful Mist-Cruisinthecoast) proved a handy 1:53.1 winner in the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) harness racing series final for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
In line to Art Stafford Jr., 1-20 public choice Misty Coast asserted herself from post five at race’s outset, seating 122-1 outsider No Gel Nikki (driven by Pat Berry) in the pocket through a :27.1 first quarter while She Is Risen (Corey Callahan) and Hold My Wine (Montrell Teague) tracked the top pair from their inside posts.
Misty Coast rated a :56.3 half unchallenged before widening her lead up the backstretch. With three-eighths to go, No Gel Nikki began to severely gap the pocket and was overtaken for second by the first-over Hold My Wine, but Misty Coast maintained 2-1/2 lengths of clearance at three-quarters in 1:24.1.
The filly kept Hold My Wine well in her wake through the stretch, winning by 5-1/2 lengths, equaling her lifetime mark, and capping a series sweep. She Is Risen saved third, another 9-1/4 lengths in arrears.
MISTY COAST REPLAY
Misty Coast, a 15-time winner with $297,550 in career earnings, is trained by Les Givens. She paid $2.10 to win.
The $20,000 consolation heat went to Direct Mist (Powerful Mist-Yankee Vista) and driver Ross Wolfenden, who overcame severe traffic on the far turn to outlast a late charge from Spoiled Rotn Girl by two lengths in 1:58. Wayne Givens trains the filly for owner-breeder Legacy Racing of Delaware.
The 2023 DSBF season concludes Thursday (Dec. 14) with the $110,000 series final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, which is carded the 10th event on a 15-race program at Bally’s Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m. EST.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund
