DSBF Final: Daringly, Mike Franks take trotting crowns

Mike Franks, driven by Ross Wolfenden, won his $110,000 DSBF final in 1:58

HARRINGTON – Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) final action for 2-year-old trotters headlined the Wednesday, Oct. 14, program at Harrington Raceway, as finals for colts/geldings and fillies were contested to wrap up a week of stakes action as the track’s 80th anniversary season winds down.

Both finals were won by Southwind Frank-sired horses.

A track record was set in the filly trotting final as Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi’s Daringly was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:57 over Vamoose, who previously held the track record, and Franchesca. Daringly registered her fourth career win for trainer Ron Burke.

Michial and Linda English’s Mike Franks ($5.80, Ross Wolfenden) was a 1:58 winner in the $110,000 DSBF final for colts and geldings. The speedy gelding utilized a strong stretch surge to grab the lead late for his fourth career win for trainer John Wilkerson over Lebanon Levii and Youcancallmeroy. The win time established a new lifetime best for Mike Franks.

A pair of trotting consolation events saw a pair of Yankee Royalty offspring get their first career wins. Robin Callahan’s Italian Royalty ($21.60, Justin Vincent) was a 2:01.3 winner in the $20,000 DSBF consolation for 2-year-old colts and geldings over Frosty Frank and Royalty Counts. Italian Royalty is trained by his owner.

One race later, in the filly trot consolation, Whodathunkitstable’s Diamond Advantage ($5, Jason Green) was a blowout winner over A Yankee Blast and Savannah’s Joy in 2:01.4. Diamond Advantage is trained by Cliff Green.