Winbak dominates DSBF 1st leg highlights

Three-Year-Old stakes got underway at Dover Downs on the final two days in March with 1st leg trotting and pacing $20,000 preliminaries at Dover Downs.

On DSBF opening day, March 30 , Delaware-sired fillies took the spotlight. Badlands Jenna, after sweeping both the Harrington and Dover Downs 2010 two-year-old filly paces, picked right up where she left off last scoring a 1:55.4 victory in her $20,000 prelim. Ben Stafford Jr. drove the Badlands Hanover-Jenna’s Joy filly in her first start to her 11th win in 13 lifetime starts for owners trainer Ben Stafford and Winbak Farm. Stash The Cash (Daryl Bier), a daughter of ill-fated Shotgun Scott,  made a belated dash down the lane to secure second. Winsmith Jess (John Wagner), a Badlands Hanover lass, was the show finisher.

Another daughter of Badlands Hanover won the other section. Devil May Care posted a 1:56 triumph edging front-pacing Allie Oakley (Jim King), also by Badlands Hanover, by a nose in the other filly pace prelim. It marked the second trainer-driver win for John Wagner who owns the Badlands Hanover-Turn For The Best filly that he owns with Winbak Farm. Apache Star (Corey Callahan), a daughter of Badlands Hanover - Apache Dame, a previous Dover Horse of the Meet, was an impressive third closing from far back.

Both favorites came through in DSBF filly trots. Overnight Command, winner of last Fall’s $100,000 freshman final was much the best as Jim Morand drove the CR Commando-Overnight Rail daughter to a convincing 2:01.1 victory. Morand and Nanticoke Racing own the five-time career winner in her sophomore season debut. Two Political Briefing foals. Now Virginia (Brad Hanners) finished second. Sweet Apple Cider (Roger Plante) was third.

Tokyo Oklahoma won the second $20,000 division with a 2:03 mile. John Wagner trains and drives the CR-Commando-Rowdy Somolli filly for Ben Kenny. SBS Commando (Eddie Davis), a CR Commando filly, and Joyful Anna (Carlo Poliseno) were second and third respectively. Political Starlet (Ross Shand), a major contender at two, broke stride at the start and finished out-of-the-money

One day later, Thursday, Powerful Mist, Three Martini’s, First Captain and Warrhawk One recorded victories as trainers Wayne Givens and George Teague and drivers Vic Kirby and Montrell Teague were multiple winners.

In one of two $20,000 colt preliminaries, Powerful Mist, a Powerful Toy-Misty Speed colt owned by Niel Gargiulo, Louie Paglierani and Legacy Racing Of DE  coasted to a 1:54 triumph in his first 2011 effort. Tim Tetrick drove Powerful Mist into the lead out of the gate and pulled away to his 10th career victory in 17 races. The Wayne Givens-trained colt was rated #17 in Stan Bergstein’s preseason Experimental Rating of the sport’s leading three-year-olds.