Dover: Major upsets abound in DSBF filly trots
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Dismissed at double-digit odds, Franchesca and Angel In Flight both emerged from off-the-pace to capture their respective $20,000 first-round Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund preliminary events for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Monday (Nov. 9) at Bally's Dover.
In the second division, 26-1 outsider Franchesca and driver Russell Foster floated forward from post six for a three-hole tuck behind 8-5 second choice Daringly (driven by Corey Callahan) and 1-5 favorite Vamoose (Eddie Dennis), who finished one-two in the $110,000 DSBF Harrington series final on Oct. 14. After drafting behind splits of 28 1/5, 57 1/5 and 1:26 3/5, Franchesca mounted her victorious rally off the turn for home, swinging three-wide around pocket foe Vamoose and surging in the final sixteenth to prevail by a widening half-length in 1:56 1/5, a full five seconds faster than her previous lifetime mark. Vamoose vacated the pocket in upper stretch and saved second over Daringly, who finished a beaten third after controlling the tempo for most of the mile.
William Wyatt trains two-time winner Franchesca, a daughter of Southwind Frank-Stirling Charisma who competes as a homebred for Eric Foster. She paid $55.80 to win.
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The first section likewise resulted in a massive upset, as 16-1 shot Angel In Flight and Corey Callahan sat fourth behind Diamond Advantage (Jason Green) through splits of 29 3/5, 59 and 1:29 1/5, angled second-over behind even-money favorite Dassie (Troy Beyer) on the final turn, and then fanned thee-wide in upper stretch before rallying to collar Dassie by a head in 1:59 4/5. She Is Unstoppable (Allan Davis), who finished a one-paced fourth from the pocket, was elevated to third over Diamond Advantage, who broke stride at the finish.
Trainer Tom Lail co-owns Angel In Flight, who paid $34.40 in her maiden-breaking win, with Linda Mowbray. The Top Flight Angel-Silent Blessings filly was bred by Winbak Farm.
Callahan led all drivers with four wins on the 15-race card; Michael Cole and Tony Morgan recorded doubles. Joe Columbo recorded a training double.
Racing returns to Bally's Dover on Tuesday (Nov. 10); the 15-race card features three $20,000 DSBF Dover series first-round events for rookie male trotters, carded as races one, two and four, as well as a $25,000 Open Trot, carded as race seven. On the wagering front, the 50-cent pentafecta, offered in the final race, boasts a carryover of $3,906.32. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).