by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Penny Paratrooper won the first of four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 2-year-old finals to highlight the Monday, Nov. 24 program at Dover Downs.

Ross Wolfenden was at the controls as the bay filly took command on the backstretch and opened up, romping to a 1:58.2 victory, her fifth in six races. A smiling Wolfenden extoled the winning filly in the winner’s circle, recalling, “ the only time she didn’t win was after breaking stride early in the $100,000 final last month at Harrington.” I Got Spunk (Corey Callahan) finished second with fast-finishing Silence Is Bliss (Robert White) third. Callmemza (pronounced Call-me-miz-a) was fourth and Cuddle Punk (Allan Davis) fifth.

Fotowon photo

Penny Paratrooper took the DSBF 2-year-old final for filly trotters in 1:58.2 on Monday at Dover Downs.

Carl and Rod Allen bred and raced both world champion CR Commando and the CR Penny Lane. Rod Allen broke and then sold the Penny Paratrooper to present owners trainer Carlo Poliseno and Foulk Racing Stable.

Driver Wolfenden, behind another daughter of CR Commando, Sign N Drive, whose dam is Tybridge, won the $20,000 DSBF Consolation in 2:02.. Star Hit (Tony Morgan) nipped Mila Bella (George Dennis) for second-place. The win was the fourth in eight starts for Sign N Drive trained by Duane Wagner for owner Scott Woogen.

In $20,000 DSBF Filly Pace 1st leg prelims, Breeder-trainer Virginia Louthan’s Spin Vision scored a lifetime best 1:54.4 triumph with Wolfenden driving. The No Pin Zone-David’s Art brown filly won for the third time in eight outings. Riggins Route (Callahan) was second in front of early leader and race favorite Love Forbidden (Morgan).

In the other $20,000 prelim, Purrfect Bags won for the sixth straight time via a 1:55.2 mile. Vic Kirby piloted the unbeaten Roddy’s Bags Again-Purrfectly Bad daughter for trainer Jim King and owner Joann King. Brian’s Thunder (Jim Morand) was next with Ohbytheway (Eddie Davis Jr.) the third-place finisher.

The second $20,000 DSBF leg for freshman male pacers is set for next Sunday. After two legs, the top eight point-getters meet in a $100,000 final on Dec. 7.

The DSBF male pacers begin their two weeks of $20,000 preliminaries Tuesday with four divisions.

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This week, racing continues through Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. post. There is no racing this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and as usual no live racing Friday and Saturday. Sunday racing resumes at 5:30 p.m.