By Paul Ramlow
9/22/04

L & L Devisser's Olympics took over the lead at the opening quarter and went on to a world record 1:54.3 performance in the $60,620 first division of the Buckette for three-year-old trotting fillies on Wednesday afternoon (September 22) at the Delaware County Fair.

John Campbell was in the bike for trainer Chuck Sylvester as the Muscles Yankee lass trotted the fastest mile ever by a sophomore filly on a half-mile oval, breaking the old mark of 1:54.4 set by Sturdy Lori at Northfield Park in 2002.

"She was sick earlier in the year," said Sylvester, "but she's really raced well in the last couple of weeks. She's been good on a half-mile track and this was the first time she drew the rail so I thought she would do well."

Although she started from post one, Olympics wasn't the fastest off the gate, but moved from the three hole to the front just after the field reached the opening quarter in :27.4. Campbell gave her a breather to the :57.1 half-mile marker, then turned up the jets and reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26. Olympics trotted a final quarter in :28.3 to reach the finish line two and a half lengths in front of Godess Of Chaos (David Miller), who went off stride at the wire and survived a judge's inquiry to hold on to her second place standing. Have You Ever (Ron Pierce) picked up the show dough.

For Olympics, the victory was her third in 10 season's starts, with her $27,279 share of the purse hiking her 2004 bankroll to $70,829.

In the second $60,620 Buckette division, James Jesk's Bramasole took advantage of a break by the prohibitive favorite Self Indulgent in the stretch and went on to the victory in a time of 1:56.3.

Eric Ledford was in the sulky for his father, trainer Seldon Ledford, as the Muscles Yankee three-year-old won for the second time in just three season's starts, taking her 2004 earnings to $49,154. The lightly raced Bramasole has won three times in her career, with two of those triumphs coming at Delaware as she was a 2:02.4 winner in a division of the Standardbred two-year-old filly trot in 2003.

Self Indulgent (David Miller) took over the lead past the :29 opening quarter, then set middle  fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.4. Self Indulgent appeared to be a winner as the field turned for home, but she made a nasty break in mid-stretch and never regained her gait.

The miscue allowed Bramasole to grab the front and go on to a decisive four and a quarter length score over Keystone Secret (Ron Pierce). Self Indulgent finished third, but was disqualified and placed sixth for an unrestrained break in the stretch. Quiet Charm (Chip Noble), finished fourth, but was placed up to third.

Ledford said that he felt Bramasole was going to win, regardless of Self Indulgent's break in stride. "I almost clipped her (Self Indulgent's) wheel before I got my filly out," said Ledford. "She was sharp and carried me around the track."