Favorites dominate in DSBF prelims

DOVER, Del. — True to their expected form, odds-on favorites Gaitway Gal (Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover) and Shabby Chic (Badlands Hanover-Stylish Artist) was as they pleased in their respective $20,000 first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund preliminary events for 3-year-old harness racing pacing fillies, conducted Wednesday (Nov. 30) at Bally’s Dover.

Gaitway Gal and driver Pat Berry earned top honors with a 1:55.2 mile in the first division. The GTY Stable’s homebred filly bypassed the three-hole on the first turn and pushed clear of 5-2 second choice Bank The Win (driven by Victor Kirby) before completing a :27.2 first quarter.

Bank The Win, who left aggressively to clear from the outside post seven before yielding, retook the lead at the bell and relegated Gaitway Gal to the pocket through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.2.

Finding herself boxed on the far turn by the first-over Mistatude (Jason Thompson), Gaitway Gal found a lane up the open stretch and surged to the lead with 70 yards to go, drawing clear at will to win by 2-1/4 lengths while in hand. Bank The Win narrowly preserved second from Mistatude, who stayed on respectably after her uncovered bid through the far turn.

Jeff Smith trainee Gaitway Gal, a nine-time winner with $167,304 in career earnings, paid $2.60 to win. Her full brother, the 2-year-old gelding Gaitway Guy, swept both the Harrington and Dover DSBF series this season.

GAITWAY GAL REPLAY

The second division saw Harrington series champion Shabby Chic and driver Tim Tetrick strike the front in the final 300 yards of a 1:56 mile and sprint clear by 6-1/2 lengths while under wraps.

Tim Tetrick was unhurried with the filly from the start, settling her in fourth behind 16-1 pacesetter Prime Power (Ross Wolfenden) through early sectionals of :28.1 and :57.1. Shabby Chic moved second-over behind Ky-Ky (Art Stafford Jr.) up the backstretch but made her biggest gains after Ky-Ky ducked into the pocket with five-sixteenths to go.

Prime Power reached three-quarters in 1:26 but was eclipsed by Shabby Chic’s sweeping push to the fore shortly thereafter. Prime Power had enough left to preserve second over Ky-Ky, who ducked to the open stretch to miss the runner-up spot by a half a length.

Shabby Chic, a winner of 12 starts and $208,650, is a Let It Ride Stables homebred trained by Michael Hall. She paid $2.20 to win.

SHABBY CHIC REPLAY

Incaseyoudidntknow (Always B Mikki) defeated the elements and the $25,000 Open Handicap Mares at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday night.

Shes Pukka N left with her customarily early brush and took the lead to the quarter in 28.1.  The 4/5 betting favorite Incaseyoudidnknow and Jim Morand took advantage of the windy conditions and rushed up to take the lead after the quarter.  Incaseyoudidntknow controlled the race fractions and passed the half in 56.3.  Shes Pukka N tired past the half and Divine Deo inherited the pocket trip.  Grace Rocks pulled first over and attacked  Incaseyoudidntknow at the three quarters in 1:25.1.

In the stretch, Incaseyoudidntknow held off the late challenges by Grace Rocks and Divine Deo and won by a half a length in 1:54.  She paid 3.60 for the win. Incaseyoudidntknow is owned by James P Mango and Joseph P. Fonte both of Maryland.  Les Givens trains. Grace Rocks finished second for trainer Jamal Williams.  Divine Deo was third for trainer Jason Johnson.  Montrell Teague had the driving assignment.

INCASEYOUDIDNTKNOW REPLAY

Corey Callahan won 4 races and Art Stafford Jr won 3 races on the betting card

Sophomore pacing fillies square off in the second preliminary round of their series next Wednesday (Dec. 7). First-round DSBF action at Bally’s Dover concludes Thursday (Dec. 1), when a pair of $20,000 splits for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings highlight the early portion of a 14-race card. First post is 4:30 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund