Dover, DE---Cut The Beach won a close photo and lightly raced Casino Bags Anso provided exciting finishes in the first two of three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 2nd leg 3-year-old male paces on Thursday (April 6) at Dover Downs where rain and a ‘good’ track arrived in mid card.
George Dennis left fast from the outside to get the early lead with Cut The Beach and George Dennis was able to keep the Artzina-I Love The Beach gelding in front to score in the 1:55.4 mile, despite a strong cavalcade of challengers including last November $100,000 DSBF champion John’s Dream (Tony Morgan), a nose back in second. Jw Renegade (John Mackinnon) was a close third.
Cut The Beach is trained by veteran Del Cote for Henry Faragalli III, Joe Thomson, Trevor Johnson and Jeff Ruben.
Casino Bags Anso, who has made a remarkable return to the races after battling lyme disease, scored his first win as trainer-driver Vince Copeland rallied the Roddy’s Bags Again-Casino Bus gelding from third turning for home to overtake leader Hail To The Mater (Art Stafford Jr,) for a 1:53.3 triumph.
Owned by Cavalli Pazzi Stables, Casino Bags Anso was on the verge of being given-away when Copeland wanted to give him one more chance and it worked. All Artist (Jeff Fout) was the third finisher.
Next Success won the third $20,000 DSBF section recording a lifetime best 1:54.2 victory with Jim Morand in the bike. Co-favorite Power To Perform (Morgan) was second in front of All Music (Dennis).
The win was the second of the day for part-owner Henry Faragalli III who owns the Veeza-Quick Question gelding with Bay Pond and Nanticoke Racing. The victory was also the second for driver Morand and trainer Les Givens.
The DSBF three-year-old second prelims have now been resolved. The top 8 point-getters in each of the four sophomore section are set for next week’s $100,000 finals.
Next week, the Dover Downs 47th season comes to a close with a $100,000 DSBF final every day. The top 8 point-getters after two preliminary legs meet. Monday is male trot day, filly pacers vie on Tuesday with filly trotters on Wednesday. Closing day, Thursday, April 14 features male pacers going for $100,000.
Jim Morand led all drivers with three wins, Corey Callahan, Allan Davis, Tony Morgan, George Dennis and Jonathan Roberts along with trainer Les Givens had two winners.
Dover Downs is dark Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.