After finishing second to Going Platinum in last month's Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series final at Harrington Raceway, Daburg got back to her winning ways on Monday, Nov. 6 at Bally's Dover, kicking off the Dover DSBF series with a commanding 1:59.1 win in the first of three $20,000 opening-round preliminary divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Now a four-time winner in five starts, Daburg and driver Pat Berry settled behind early pacesetter Gavelhigh (Kim Vincent) through a :29.1 first quarter before brushing to the lead with a lap to go. Daburg opened a three-length lead past the :58.3 half and steadily widened her advantage to 8-1/2 lengths over eventual runner-up Chinco Mayo (Robert White), who sustained a first-over grind to wear down Gavelhigh through the far turn. Little Silver (Ross Shand) finished third.
Traci Berry trains Daburg, a daughter of Anders Bluestone-Comical Dream who has now earned $62,050, for J. Craparotta And P. Berry Racing LLC.
Harrington champion Going Platinum ($2.80) found her way back to the winner's circle by way of a 2:00.3 front-end score in the third division. Corey Callahan rated the E L Platinum-Nitroglide Hanover filly through a 1:00.2 first half before bracing for a mild first-over challenge from Luvyas Nugget (Victor Kirby) up the backstretch. Going Platinum repelled her outside challenger before evading pocket rival Rip Away (Cody Poliseno) by 2-1/4 lengths. Luvyas Nugget faded to third.
Nick Callahan trains two-time winner Going Platinum, who has banked $88,499 in 10 starts, for Dolly Callahan's Breakaway Racing.
Lovies Place ($11.80) completed the trio of first-round winners with a 2:02 score in the second division for owner-trainer Bobby Glassmeyer. Ross Wolfenden protected pole position with the E L Platinum-Mocha filly, forcing Wolfpack Wilma (Callahan) into the pocket through a :29.2 first quarter before outlasting a stern first-over challenge from Pickin Lilies (Jason Thompson) through middle splits of 1:01.4 and 1:31.1 before shrugging off that foe on the far turn and keeping Wolfpack Wilma 1-1/4 lengths at bay. Platinum Proposal (Jim Morand), sent the 3-5 favourite, circled stalled cover to save third.
Lovies Place, now a two-time winner in four career starts, has earned $27,100.
Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings commence their Dover DSBF series Tuesday, Nov. 7, with 14 entrants divided into a pair of $20,000 first-round events. First post is 4:30 p.m. EST.
(Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)