In a $40,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace also on the North America Cup undercard, Venus Delight was shuffled to last, but staged a big rally in the homestretch to circle the field for the 1:50.2 victory.

 

Insider Venus Delight got away mid-pack, but as the backfield advanced in the outer flow, she founded herself in seventh-place by head-stretch. However, Tim Tetrick fanned the millionaire mare out wide coming off the final turn and reeled in the 6-5 favourite Witch Dali (Jody Jamieson), who had led through fractions of :26.1, :55.1 and 1:23. A :26.2 closing quarter put Venus Delight a half-length in front of Witch Dali at the wire. Our Hot Majorette (Rick Zeron) shot through along the pylons off a three-hole trip to finish less than a length behind in third.

 

Venus Delight picked up her second win this year since her Betsy Ross victory at Harrah's Philadelphia at the end of May. The six-year-old Bettors Delight-Venus Killean mare is now a 27-time career winner for trainer Jeffrey Bamond Jr. and Bamond Racing LLC.