Dover, DE – Factory Girl waited patiently from the pocket then pounced on the field winning the $25,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (Jan. 21).
Factory Girl and driver Tim Tetrick chose a different race strategy from last week when racing from off the pace. Tonight they left quickly from the word go as a three horse scramble resulted approaching the first turn. Square Deal guarded the pylon position, parking out Factory Girl and Ballast who were forced three- wide approaching the quarter-pole.
Factory Girl, the 3/2 betting favorite, yielded allowing a revved up Ballast to clear the lead but only after being parked out through an opening quarter in :26.3. Ballast continued unchallenged but blistered the half in :54.2 (:27.4). Longshot Grandeur Seelster grinded first-over pacing up the backstretch straightaway. Racin Hungry was towed into a second-over journey and Factory Girl remained in the pocket. Ballast raced confidently passing the three-quarters in 1:22.1 and identical :27.4 quarters.
The parked out bids by Grandeur Seelster and a three wide brush by Racin Hungry evaporated.
At the top of the stretch Factory Girl vacated the pocket and challenged Ballast late. Factory Girl roared home to win by a measured length and a half. She paid an even $5.00 to win. Ballast finished a well fought second and Square Deal picked up the show position.
Factory Girl (Downbytheseaside) is owned by Angela Cornell of Freeport, NY. Scott Di Domenico trained and Tim Tetrick drove. She was bred by Sugar Valley Farms LLC. The feature race on the betting card on Thursday night is the $25,000 Open pace. Renaissance Deo attempts to extend his two race win streak however, he is stepping up in class. Downers Delight, Stevens’s Saloon and Dale Yeah look to spoil his fun.
Tim Tetrick scored a driving triple on the betting card.
Bally’s Dover races Monday thru Thursday. Post Time is 4:30 p.m.