Chester, PA — Coming off a game victory against Tug River Princess in the $100,000 Betsy Ross Invitational, Cuz She Can ($3.80) was in top form yet again, winning Thursday (July 15) afternoon’s $32,000 Mares Open Handicap pace at Harrah’s Chester in convincing fashion.

The 5-year-old daughter of Cambest settled off pacesetters Delightful Diva (George Napolitano) and Alice’s Restaurant (Corey Callahan) through sprightly fractions of :26.2 and :54.4, moving first-over on the bridge turn before working her way to the front on the backstretch. Faced with a bit of resistance from Delightful Diva, Cuz She Can dug in some on the backstretch, eventually clearing to three-quarters in 1:22.3. On the far turn, she pulled away with much in reserve, drawing off to a six-length win in 1:50 under minimal urging from Yannick Gingras. Alice’s Restaurant rallied up the open stretch to take second, while Teenage Paige (Tim Tetrick) earned show honors, making ground steadily from the rear of the field.

Ron Burke trains Cuz She Can for Bulletproof Enterprises.

— Harrah’s Chester publicity department

Vernon Downs
Delightful Dancer displayed the most foot in the homestretch while capturing Thursday night’s $8,000 featured sixth race in 1:53.1 at Vernon Downs. Chuck Connor, Jr. did the driving for veteran conditioner Howard Okusko, Sr. as Delightful Dancer laid back in the early going, came overland from third at the half, and then closed from second in the final furlong to catch and defeat the pace-setting Chantal Hall by a little more than two lengths in the week’s top test for female pacers. It was the third season’s score (all at Vernon) and 10th overall tally for the 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Dragon’s Georgette, who is owned by Rocco Manzi. Her career bankroll now stands at $87,418.

Scioto Downs
Flight Elal used a fast final half to capture a 2-year-old maiden pace at Scioto on Thursday in 1:56.3. The son of Panspacificflight was driven to victory by trainer Jim Dailey. At the wire, Flight Elal had a half-length on Fiftytwoflat (Allamerican Native) who paced past No Satin Intended in the stretch. The final half-mile was paced in :56.3. The winner is owned by breeders Kenneth Cohen and Pacey Mindlin of Ohio. The gelding paid $16.60 to win in his first pari-mutuel start.