by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Delaware, OH — Tipton Teeez raced on the outside the entire mile and still was strong in the stretch, capturing Wednesday’s (Sept. 23) $44,200 Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old female pacers by three-quarters of a length over Rockin Rum Springa in 1:55.3 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Tipton Teeez was a game 1:55.3 winner in the Standardbred Stakes.

Favorite Miss Me Yet won an early battle for the lead with Hug A Dragoness and when the dust settled in the :26.3 opening quarter-mile Tipton Teeez and driver Yannick Gingras found themselves parked out with no place to find room on the pylons.

Tipton Teeez remained on the outside pressuring Miss Me Yet through a half-mile in :54.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.3.

As the field came off the final turn, the fillies fanned out across the track for the stretch drive. Tipon Teeez prevailed, with Rockin Rum Springa getting up for second from the rear of the pack and Hug A Dragoness finishing third. Tipton Teeez paid $6 to win.

Tipton Teeez (Western Terror-Finest Arts) is owned by Jennifer Brown and Richard Lombardo. She is trained by Delaware County Fairgrounds-based Brian Brown and has won four of eight races this season with earnings of $63,371. The victory in the Standardbred Stakes was her third triumph in a row.

“In the last panel I knew I was going to win with her because she was digging in and I knew the other horse had to come three wide so she would either hang or drop back,” said Gingras. “To be honest, I didn’t think I had a chance to win with her just before we hit the three-quarters, but she just became stronger as the wire came closer.”

— Kimberly French also contributed to this report