Wednesday card at Dover Downs offers intrigue

While the Wednesday cards at Dover Downs in Delaware are normally dominated by trotting events, the five-eighths mile oval will play host to a trio of Delaware Standardbred Race Fund events for freshman filly pacers as well tomorrow.

In fact, Wednesday's opener is the first division of the second DSBF elimination for two-year-old filly pacers and the two best ones in the field and perhaps the series drew alongside one another.

Apple Bottom Jeans (Montrell Teague) won the $100,000 DSBF final at Harrington Raceway last month for trainer Kevin Switzer and came right back to capture her opening preliminary in 1:54.4 here as the 1-9 favorite. The daughter of Mr Apples owned and bred by Kdk Standardbreds has won three of four outings overall and looms the 2-5 favorite from post two.

But railbound Eternal Ring (Jonathan Roberts) has won two straight since finishing third in the Harrington final for trainer Bobby Glassmeyer and has ample gate speed to protect good early position. This Maryland-bred daughter of Artzina has won four of six outings overall and was third in each of her two defeats.

Then one race later in the second DSBF elim for the freshmen filly pacers, Use Your Noodle (Jim Morand) looks to atone for a second-place finish as the 4-5 choice in the opening round when she starts from post three. This Maryland-bred daughter of Artzina trained by Les Given was fourth in the Harrington final after finishing second in the two elims there.

Railbound Mortgage Bags (Eddie Dennis) will be looking to prove that her opening leg victory at 87-1 was no fluke. Trained by Dennis for owner-breeder Joseph Thomas, Mortgage Bags drew off to win by seven lengths last week in a break-marred race and will be a much shorter price tomorrow evening although her skeptics will wait for her to prove her worth.

She's Brilliant (Corey Callahan), Fiftyshadesofrusty (George Dennis) and Skats Outa The Bag (Ross Wolfenden) will leave from posts five, six and seven, respectively, with upset chances. She's Brilliant was the 2-1 second choice last week who broke stride and scattered the field, allowing Mortgage Bags to draw clear at a huge price.

One race later in a non-winners of two races lifetime conditioned event for pacers, Coal Hanover (Tony Morgan) and Cams Director (Roberts) will look to settle the issue from posts six and seven, respectively. Cams Director has faced tougher at Harrah's Philadelphia and Woodbine, while Cams Director was a sharp 1:55.1 winner in his return to Dover last week.

Then just past the midway point of the card, a solid field of older trotters will go postward in the $20,000 Open Handicap. Prayer Session (Roberts), Tough Mac (Callahan), Powerful Charger (Victor Kirby) and Spunky Jack (Roger Plante, Jr.) all own wins at this level. Any number of them could find the winner's circle here, although Powerful Charger will likely need a race following a sick scratch.

Then one race later in the 11th, the third DSBF second round division features a solid choice. Seeboomook Up-Town (Allan Davis) has won four of six starts for trainer Wayne Givens and owner-breeder Garnet O'Marrow and was second in the DSBF final at Harrington. She will be the solid favorite from post two, while Rowdy Patti (Bryan Truitt) looms a threat from post five.