Delaware, OH — Fighting Evil fought off Tava in the stretch to win Wednesday’s (Sept. 23) $39,406 Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old female pacers by a neck in 1:54.2 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio. Always B Laughin finished third.

Fighting Evil fought off Tava in the stretch to win Wednesday’s Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old female pacers in 1:54.2. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Always B Laughin and Fighting Evil were quickest off the gate, with Fighting Evil claiming the lead just prior to reaching the quarter in :27.4. She led to the half in :58 before facing pressure from first-over Tava as they made their way up the backstretch. They reached three-quarters in 1:26.3 and battled into the stretch, with Fighting Evil holding off Tava to her outside and Always B Laughin to the inside.

Mike Wilder drove Fighting Evil for trainer Danielle Snyder, who owns the filly with Jason Ash. Fighting Evil, a daughter of Sweet Lou out of Evil Fight, has won four of eight races this year and $81,023. She was bred by James Craparotta and Patrick Berry and sold for $12,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale.

“It’s fantastic, especially with a little filly like this,” Ash said about getting to the winner’s circle in his hometown of Delaware. “She really wasn’t on our radar at Lexington. She had a good (pedigree) page and she was inexpensive to say the least. They’ve done a great job bringing her along slowly, she’s a little immature as far as size goes. I’m super happy for the whole team involved.”