Dover, DE --- Three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) preliminaries inaugurated in 2015 for 3-year-old filly trotters got things underway on Monday, March 23 at Dover Downs. Tony Morgan won two races to move within six of 15,000.
Carlo Poliseno and Foulk Stable’ Penny Paratrooper, the prohibitive favorite, and Callmemza finished in a 2:01 dead-heat in the third DSBF prelim. Jonathan Roberts stalked Penny Paratrooper with Ross Hayter from the start then came on in the final step to tie for the victory. The two leading money winners at two added to their earnings with Penny Paratrooper, a CR Commando-CR Penny Lane filly, earning her sixth win in seven starts, boosting her career earnings to $109,500 and Callmemza, a Great George Two-Endorphan Anne daughter, now five for nine and $105,221 lifetime for Bib Roberts, Graham Grace and M&W stables. Sign N Drive (Corey Braden) was third.
I Got Spunk kicked off the Delaware stakes with an impressive 1:58.1 victory in the first division. Corey Callahan sat second behind Cuddle Punk cutting out the mile until reaching the homestretch when I Got Spunk eased to the lead and drew away for a lifetime best 1:58.1 victory, It was the second in two starts for owner-trainer Leigh Raymer and fourth in 10 starts with two seconds and two thirds for the Super Punk- Gogetitdun filly. She has won $69,205 lifetime. My Fire Cloud (Eddie Davis Jr.) took second with Cuddle Punk (Allan Davis) third.
In the second $20,000 DSBF section, Dancing Shirley, trained by Morgan McInnis, posted a 2:00 triumph, the first in her career for the Beatrix D in Der Wiesche-owned Giant Hit-Eagle Score soph driven by George Dennis. Silence Is Bliss (Eddie Davis Jr) was second. Mila Bella (Allan Davis) was the show finisher.
The second DSBF leg for filly trotter is set for next Monday. The top eight finishers qualify for a $100,000 final on April 6.
Tony Morgan picked up tree wins including a consecutive double to reach 14,965 career winning drives. Corey Callahan and Ross Wolfenden also won three. Vic Kirby and Jonathan Roberts had two wins each.
The DSBF sophomore first colt and gelding trotters meet in two $20,000 division on Tuesday plus a $20.000-$30,000 Claiming Handicap.