Bound by Destiny had impressed in her first two starts, breaking her maiden by 14 lengths before running down Tappin Josie late to win an allowance race last out by a head. But she figured to be facing a bigger and deeper field than she’d yet seen.

Among her nine rivals: Tappin Josie was back. Titoschangedmyluck, winner of the Keswick last out at Colonial Downs for trainer Chuck Lawrence, was on hand. So was Skylar’s Sister, an eye-catching winner on the turf at Laurel Park in her debut for Dale Capuano. And Chickiness, a good-looking winner at second asking for leading trainer Jamie Ness, also was here.

But when the gates opened, none of them had any answers for Bound by Destiny. While last time out, Rose had been content to let Tappin Josie carve the early fractions, this time he took it to his rivals. Bound by Destiny had a head advantage over 30-1 outsider Laramore after a quarter-mile in a sharp 21.76 seconds.

That cooked Laramore, but Chickieness loomed the next threat. Not for long, though: Bound by Destiny had cleared to a three-length lead by mid-stretch and went on to roll home under a hand ride in 1:04.58 for 5 ½ furlongs on a fast main track.

“This was the kind of race I was expecting she would deliver from the way she was coming into this race,” said winning trainer Anthony Pecoraro.  “She had been training great and we could not be happier with the way she has been developing from race to race.  She is so smart and such a quick learner.  I thought I may have spaced her a little too much between her maiden win (July 1) and her last race (August 10), but it looks like three to four weeks may be better for her.  Hopefully we can win the next one which will be the Small Wonder.”

The six-furlong Small Wonder, like the Blue Hen restricted to Delaware certified two-year-old fillies, takes place September 28.

Chickieness held second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Skylar’s Sister. Tappin Josie, who ran erratically in the stretch, finished fourth.

Bound by Destiny, owned by Black Cloud Racing Stable LLC, paid $4.80 to win as the post time favorite. The exacta was good for $9.40 for a buck.