Two $100,000 DSBF Finals held

DOVER, DE — Rivers ($3.00) completed a sweep of the fall Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund series for 2-year-old male harness racing trotters at Dover Downs in Tuesday night’s (Nov. 23) $100,000 final, narrowly staving off a late charge from Navy Blue in a stakes record-tying 1:56.4.

The gelded son of Anders Bluestone and Stargazer Lily yielded to Navy Blue and Canoe Trip through a :28.2 first quarter before brushing to the lead in front of the grandstand. After clearing with nine-sixteenths to go, Rivers sprinted 2-1/2 lengths clear to a :57.2 half.

Navy Blue tightened down in the pocket nearing three-quarters in 1:27.1 and edged to the outside at the eighth pole, but Rivers rose to the challenge, prevailing by a diminishing nose. Navy Blue (Art Stafford Jr.), who won in the second preliminary round, was 5-1/4 lengths better than LG’s Reed O Wen (Jim Morand), who finished third.

Nick Callahan trains the Nancy Miller-bred Rivers, now a three-time winner with $77,550 in career earnings, for Stuart Chambers Racing, BCJM Inc., Divine Horse Racing and Cinbrew Enterprises.

RIVERS REPLAY

On the strength of a 4-1/4-length win in the second preliminary round last week, Shes All Woman ($5.60) dug deep late to repel 3-2 favorite Our Last Penny in the $100,000 Marv Bachrad Memorial, the DSBF final for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Jared Moyer pushed Shes All Woman forward from post seven, and the pair landed in the pocket behind early pacesetter Just Pump It, who tore through a :28.3 first quarter before yielding to Franky Doyle with a lap to go.

Now relegated to third, Shes All Woman remained in the clear through a :58.1 half and angled off the pegs to advance around a struggling Just Pump It.

Shes All Woman steamrolled to the front nearing three-quarters in 1:28.3, and Our Last Penny — who was eight lengths behind at the bell — chased live flow out of fifth to work to within striking range on the far turn. Our Last Penny and trainer-driver Rod Allen angled back to the outside after a brief tuck turning for home, but despite her strongest rally, Shes All Woman held her ground to win by a head in 1:59.4. Miss Timber Wolf (Kim Vincent) finished third, beaten 6-1/4 lengths.

John Wagner trains Shes All Woman, an Anders Bluestone-Wark Woman filly who also won the $85,125 Virginia Breeders’ Fund final at Shenandoah Downs on Oct. 1. Thus far, the Pamela Wagner homebred has won four of her seven career outings and banked $111,200.

SHES ALL WOMAN REPLAY

Cotton ($4.40) won the $15,000 DSBF consolation for rookie male trotters, turning aside sustained pressure from JAS Bluestone before edging clear to a two-length win over Brief Legacy in 2:01.4. Tim Tetrick drove the Jane Dunavant homebred son of Dusty Winner and Cashmere for trainer Carlo Poliseno.

One remaining DSBF 2-year-old final is slated for Wednesday (Nov. 24): The $100,000 Ramona Hubbard, for rookie pacing fillies, is carded as the 10th event on the 15-race Thanksgiving Eve card.

For full race results, click here.

From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund