Delaware County Fair: Track record mile for Valley Of Fear in Standardbred

Valley Of Fear picked up her first career stakes victory in impressive fashion on Wednesday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair, taking the $41,531 Standardbred Grand Circuit event for rookie pacing fillies in a track record time of 1:52 2/5. Brunella overcame post eight to win the companion $46,331 tilt for trotters.

Driven by David Miller, Valley Of Fear moved out of third before the 27 2/5 opening quarter and brushed past Stay Happy (Mike Wilder) to take over command beyond that marker. From there, Valley Of Fear clicked off middle-half panels of 55 2/5 and 1:24 before she kicked away from the others in a 28 2/5 final quarter, winning by open lengths. Stay Happy held second over Miss Cadet (Peter Wrenn).

A daughter of Fear The Dragon bred by Winbak Farm, Valley Of Fear, who is co-owned by trainer Blake MacIntosh in partnership with Hutt Racing Stable and Ozzie MacKay, has three wins from six starts, and she has now earned $72,165. She paid $2.80 to win as the favorite.

In the Standardbred for freshman trotting fillies, Brunella (Yannick Gingras) left from post eight and was able to get by Ruth Honig (Tim Tetrick) to take charge before the 27 3/5 opening quarter. Gingras then backed down the tempo to just 58 2/5 at the half, and that gave Brunella plenty left in the tank when Ruth Honig pulled out of the two-hole prior to the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters, as Brunella was able to repel her to the wire, scoring by half a length in 1:56 1/5. Swan Fancy (Aaron Merriman) collected third.

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Nancy Takter trains Brunella, a Father Patrick filly who is a homebred for Christina Takter and Goran Falk. Brunella has compiled a record of 2-2-0 from six appearances, pushed her bankroll to $69,493, and returned $21.60 to win as an 9-1 shot.