Dover, DE --- There was a mild surprise on Monday (April 7) at Dover Downs in the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year-old filly pace final. Fashion Guru went right to the front for Tim Tetrick and never looked back, fashioning a 1:54.3 triumph in the first of four $100,000 DSBF finals this week.
Second in both of her $20,000 preliminaries for owner Winbak Farm, the Ben Stafford trained filly took control early with a :26.3 opening panel and continued on for her fourth win with four seconds in nine lifetime starts. The Rustler Hanover-Natural Luck homebred boosted her career earnings to $75,925. Jonigold (Corey Callahan), who left from the outside but relinquished the lead to Fashion Guru, was second. Megginspin (Ron Pierce) closed for third money.
The public choice, Seboomook Fool Yah (Allan Davis), had won both her prelims impressively, but after making an unsuccessful bid on the backstretch she flattened out and finished off the board for the first time in her 13 race career.
In the $20,000 DSBF consolation, Corey Callahan took Treasure Valley to the front and then had to ward off a challenge from Juliana’s Director on thebackstretch before pulling away to a 1:57.2 victory. The Roddy’s Bags Again-Fox Valley Hooker filly is trained by Del Cote for owners Henry Faragalli III, Trevor Johnson and Joe Thomson. Hen’s Playmate (Eddie Davis, Jr.) came on to finish second in front of Crushed Again (Vic Kirby).
Reversing racing positions from the previous two weeks, Jeremes Sweetheart and Ron Pierce cut out the fractions with Spend It All getting a two-hole trip in the $24,000 Mares Open pace. This week, it was Spend It All, and driver Jim Morand, that took the passing lane route and came away with a 1:54 victory. Les Givens conditions the Tell All-Dream Card 4-year-old, who posted her first win of the year and 17th of a two-year career. Spend It All, owned by Brooke Givens and Steve Head, has earned $163,290 lifetime. Alexachase (Bret Brittingham) was first over again and had to settle for third.
Scootin For Joy came out of third halfway down the stretch, then won the foot race to the finish line in 1:53.1 to win the $17,500 Mares Winners Over Pace. Ron Pierce picked up his third win of the day by guiding the 4-year-old Western Paradise-Scooting Annie daughter to her fourth win of the year for trainer Pete Tritton and owner Harry von Knoblauch. Lloyd’s Lady (Montrell Teague) sat second from the start and finished second with front-pacing Pacific Wine (Corey Callahan) finishing third.
Pierce led all drivers with four trips to the winner’s circle, while meet leader Callahan had a triple.
Only three more racing days are left this meet with each featuring a $100,000 DSBF final. The $100,000 DSBF 3-year-old filly trot final is the Tuesday feature race.