by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Sayulita, the only filly in a field of eight, pulled a surprise to win the $20,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap while Yannick Gingras registered a driving four-bagger at Dover Downs on Tuesday (Nov. 8). Four $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) first leg preliminaries were also on the female-dominated card.
Tony Morgan won the first of a double rolling Sayulita, a sophomore daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Fresh Idea, quickly past public choice Purrfect Bags after turning for home. The pair streaked to a 1:52.1 triumph for trainer Dickie Lewis and owners David Banks and Layfield Horses.
Empress Deo (Allan Davis) rushed from last to finish a close second. Scandalicious (Jim Morand) was third.
The first two of four $20,000 DSBF prelims composed the daily double. JoAnn Looney-King’s Logan Girl moved from third on the backstretch to take the lead and breezed to a 1:56.2 victory for her fifth win in a row and sixth in seven lifetime races. A Lady Sizzling (Morgan) was second best in front of Spinvisible (Davis).
The Roddy’s Bags Again-All Italian filly now has won $97,850.
Lunar Phase, off at 17-1, came on to overtake early leader Spinpressive (Corey Callahan) to notch a 1:57 score in the second DSBF prelim. Art Stafford trains, drives and co-owns the Roddy’s Bags Again-Blue Moon Artist filly with Wyatt Starkey. Bedeviled Renegade (Vince Copeland) was the show horse.
Later Joel and Dianne Halpern’s homebred Westwind Roddylee, a brown Roddy’s Bags Again-Lee’s Best filly, cruised home in 1:57.2 for Tony Morgan’s second winner. Magicinthemoonlite (Gingras) tested the winner heading around the final turn then yielded still finishing second. So Many Friends (George Dennis) took third.
Gingras and trainer Josh Green teamed for four triumphs. Those winners were Kissed By A Dragon in 1:56.2 and Save The Treasure, both owned by Rich Lombardo, L&J Racing and JJ&M Stable, as well as two owned by Josh Green, Lightning Ride in 1:53.2 for his fifth consecutive win and Sherry My Sherry, a 1:54.2 winner.
Vic Kirby had three wins, while Ross Wolfenden, and trainer Jim King and owner JoAnn Looney-King had doubles.
The $20,000 Open Trot and two $20,000 DSBF Filly Trot first preliminaries head the Wednesday (Nov. 9) program.
For the second straight Sunday, there will not be live racing. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing on Fridays and Saturdays.