Dover, DE — Jo Ann Looney-King’s Curtsyforpurrseco ($2.40) became the lone 2-year-old pacing filly with a shot at sweeping the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) series at Bally’s Dover after winning her $20,000 second-round preliminary division on Wednesday (Nov. 15) in a lifetime best 1:56.4.
Curtsyforpurrseco, who squared off against fellow first-round winners Smalltown Bad Girl and Designs On You in the first of three second-round splits, was parked in third early after Smalltown Bad Girl (driven by Victor Kirby) secured the lead over American Marvel (George Dennis) through a :28.1 first quarter. Tim Tetrick drove on with Curtsyforpurrseco with a lap to go, and the Roddy’s Bags Again-Purrfectly Bad filly strode clear and controlled middle splits of :58.3 and 1:28.1. After rebuffing a first-over challenge from Designs On You (Allan Davis) through the far turn, Curtsyforpurrseco evaded a late rally from runner-up Smalltown Bad Girl to win by a length. Designs On You faded to third.
Jim King Jr. trains the Winbak Farm-bred Curtsyforpurrseco, whose fifth career win brought her total earnings to $49,771.
In the second division, Bad Nella Monella ($10.60) and Ross Wolfenden endured an eventful journey en route to a maiden-breaking 1:58.1 score over 3-5 favorite Slipinsidewayz (Victor Kirby). The daughter of Badlands Hanover-Nella’s Bus sprinted clear to a 2-1/2-length lead in the first sixteenth before yielding to Grace O’Malley (Tony Morgan) at the completion of a :28.3 first quarter. Up the backstretch, Slipinsidewayz surged out of midfield into the lead, and Wolfenden angled Bad Nella Monella out of a failing pocket to protect second at three-quarters in 1:29.1. Bad Nella Monella then closed a three-length gap through the final three-sixteenths and lunged to just nab Slipinsidewayz in the final stride. Salma (Pat Berry) was third.
Trainer Andrew Stafford owns Bad Nella Monella, who has earned $16,400 in five starts, with Bonnie Benson, Thomas Ireland and Brian Martin.
Bella’s Dream ($3.20) and Tony Morgan also won in 1:58.1, brushing from third to clear Jett Propelled (Art Stafford Jr.) with a lap to go before parrying an outside bid from Makemymommaproud (Eric Davis) up the backstretch and evading Jett Propelled by 2-1/4 lengths in the final division. Classic Diamond (Corey Callahan) was a ground-saving third.
Steve LeBlanc trains Bella’s Dream, a two-time winner in 11 starts with $46,230 in the bank, for LeBlanc Racing Inc., Count De Money Stable, William Lutz Jr. and Douglas Johnson.
The eight fillies who qualified for the $110,000 Ramona Hubbard DSBF final, to take place next Wednesday (Nov. 22), are as follows: Curtsyforpurrseco, Smalltown Bad Girl, Bad Nella Monella, Bella’s Dream, Designs On You, Jet Propelled, American Marvel and Slipinsidewayz.