In opening night events, Tom's Toy, AJ's Lilgamblngal, and Little Bit Tricky won the three $20,000 first leg filly paces on Sunday, March 22.
The prelims began when Tom's Toy, a Powerful Toy-Glowing Hans bay, the DSBF two-year-old winner of the $100,000 final, breezed to a 1:55 victory in the first $20,000 three-year-old filly pace division.
Corey Callahan drove the Tom Cooke-owned winner for trainer Roger Hans to her fifth win in 10 career races. Go Jackie Jo (Vince Copeland), a Badlands Hanover filly, sat second for the entire route.
In another $20,000 DSBF soph filly pace, Eric Goodell left quickly with Little Bit Tricky from post 8 to find room second behind race favorite Rusty's Joy (Eddie Davis Jr.). Rusty's Joy, also sired by Badlands Hanover, led the rest of the mile until the final steps when Little Bit Tricky finally caught the leader after a stretch-long duel to the wire in 1:55.3. A daughter of Powerful Toy, CJ's Crystal (Roger Plante) picked up third money. Jim and Bill Outten and Green Racing own Little Bit Tricky, a Badlands Hanover-Bit Of Trick sophomore.
Arguably the finest group of Delaware sired three-year-old male pacers led off the first of two $20,000 preliminary legs on Monday, March 23.
Ray's Big Bubba scored the most impressive victory in his $20,000 DSBF sophomore first leg pace. Ross Wolfenden took the Badlands Hanover -Miss Rae colt to front early and kept extending the margin in a 1:52.2 score for Rae Sullivan, Jay Leonard and Richards Stables. Scott Gregoire trains the winner of his first three-year-old start and seventh in 11 lifetime outings. Prince Of Badlands (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up. Get Jazzed (Jeff Fout), a Three Wizzards offspring, was the show finisher. PT Stable's Al Ibad Spider sat second for Eric Goodell until turning for home where the Badlands Hanover-Ali Shyba gelding roared past prohibitive 0favorite Zee Barber (Jim Morand) for a 1:53.1 victory. Sgt Charlie (Corey Callahan) was third. All three finishers were sired by Badlands Hanover.
A pair of sons of Three Olives took the other DSBF $20,000 prelims. Barbara Gannon's Everlasting Pride notched a decisive 1:54.3 win besting a pair of Badlands Hanover sophs, race favorite Mr. Wiggles (Callahan) with Badlands Pete (Morgan) the third horse. The victory keeps the Three Olives-Ladyshooter gelding unbeaten in 2009 with his fourth straight win and seventh win in eight lifetime races.
Joe Eisenhower's Three Ten, a Three Olives-Future Forecast-colt, teamed with Ron Pierce for a 1:55.4 victory in the other DSBF prelim. The second leg DSBF colt prelims are set for next Monday.
On Wednesday, March 25, DSBF first leg action for three-year-old trotters was the highlight event, and Vic Kirby drove the winner's of two of the three filly $20,000 prelims including the fastest event, Pam Wagner's JA's Commando, a daughter of Cr commando-Anastasia. She trotting home in 1:59.4 winning her first start of the year and sixth lifetime win in 12 races.
Kirby retuned to the winner's circle steering Funny Brief to victory in 2:01.3 in her $20,000 prelim. The win came in the Political Briefing-Over Comical filly's first three-year-old start. A pair of CR Commando fillies were second and third. Top Spa (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up. Copper Harbor (Wolfenden) was the show horse.
A non-wagering $20,000 DSBF filly event preceded the regular program.
Corey Callahan moved Kathleen Kuebler's No More Games out of third and quickly took over en route to a 2:03.4 victory finished off by a :29.1 last quarter to her $200,000 prelim. Another daughter of CR Commando, Jo An De's Fun (Jack Baumann) was second in front of the Political Briefing-sired Political Spin (Roger Plante). The Erv Miller-trained No More Games, a CR Commando-Celebrity Charter filly, won the $100,000 DSBF at two last December and now has four wins in six career starts with one second and $81,290 lifetime.
In colt action, Ross Wolfenden scooted down the passing lane driving Spent Force to collar Ruby Ransom (Brandon Givens) by a head in 2:00.3. Special Command (Roger Plante), after battling Rudy Ransom for the lead on the last turn until nearing the finish line, had to settle for third in the tight photo finish. The win was the second for Vicki Givens who co-owns the CR Commando-Classical Ginny gelding with Doris Marine. Spent Force won his second straight and now has won five of six lifetime starts for trainer Wayne Givens. The first three finishers were CR Commando offspring.
Following second leg races, the top eight point getters return for $100,000 finals. Monday, Aug. 6 will be an all pacing night for the colts and fillies. The male and female trotting finals are set for Wednesday, April 8 at Dover Downs.