Dover: Copeland sends out a pair of DSBF victors

Trainer Vince Copeland took two of the three $20,000 first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) preliminary events for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday (Dec. 3) at Bally's Dover as both Git Goin and Bobby's Grace defeated odds-on favorites in their respective splits.

Git Goin, whom Copeland also owns and drove, sustained a first-over push out of fourth up the backstretch and through the far turn, collared pace-setter Mad Anne (driven by Jason Thompson) with 50 yards to go, and evaded a late rally from 1-5 favorite Valentina Station (Trae Porter) to win the third division in 1:55. Sweet Samsara (David Rearic) narrowly saved third up the open stretch over Mad Anne.

The Badlands Hanover-Goin Again filly, now a four-time winner from 20 career starts, paid $10.60 to win as the 4-1 second choice.

Copeland's other stakes winner was Bobby's Grace, whom Russell Foster drove to a 1:55 win in the second division. The Roddy's Bags Again-Casino Bus filly latched onto the live cover of Tilted Crown (Allan Davis) up the backstretch, launched a three-wide push midway around the far turn, and reached the lead with 70 yards to go before holding off an inside bid from 1-9 favorite Little Miss Peyton (Corey Callahan) to win by a length. Pace-setter Proper Lady (Cody Poliseno) finished third.

Bobby's Grace, who paid $11.40 to win as the 9-2 second choice, has won four of 23 career starts for owner Michael Baio.

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The first division saw Bella Artiste and driver Jim Morand prevail at 1-9, making every pole a winning one en route to a 2 1/4 length, 1:56 1/5 score over Mimosa On The Key (Tim Tetrick) and Odds Beater (Justin Vincent). Les Givens trains the Badlands Hanover-Arts Bid filly, who now has won 12 of her 24 career starts, for Nanticoke Racing, Arthur Feeney and Chad Tate. She paid $2.20 to win.

Sophomore male pacers kick off their DSBF series at Bally's Dover on Thursday (Dec. 4), with the first of two $20,000 first-round splits taking place at 4:10 p.m. (EST) and the second kicking off a 12-race pari-mutuel card at 4:30 p.m.

--press release (DSBF)--