Royal Beep Beep ($7) and Trout Master ($29.60) upended odds-on favourites in their respective $20,000 first-round divisions of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series for two-year-old male trotters on Tuesday (Nov. 7) at Bally's Dover.
In the first division, Royal Beep Beep used two moves through the first five-eighths of the mile to establish control before repelling an outside challenge from Harrington DSBF series champion LGs Jaxon and prevailing in 1:58.3. Tim Tetrick floated the Yankee Royalty-Beep Beep Bye Bye gelding into third out of post seven through a :29.1 first quarter before advancing to engage and overtake the early leader, Workslikeacharm (Brett MacDonald) past a 1:00 half. After clearing for the lead up the backstretch, Royal Beep Beep faced stern pressure from 1-5 favourite LGs Jaxon (Jim Morand), who latched onto Royal Beep Beep's mid-race cover, to three-quarters in 1:29 before digging in to stave that rival off through the stretch by a length. Pretty Two (Carlo Poliseno) rallied mildly for third, another 2-1/4 lengths behind.
Jason Skinner trains Royal Beep Beep, who has won three of his seven starts to date and banked $51,368 for owner-breeder Deborah Warnick.
In the second division, 4-5 choice LGs Bluestone (Art Stafford Jr.) travelled uncontested on the lead through splits of :28.3 and :59.1 before Pat Berry angled Trout Master second-over behind Portnoy (Montrell Teague) with three-eighths to go. LGs Bluestone remained unchallenged to three-quarters in 1:29, only for Trout Master to circle three-wide through the far turn and reach the lead cornering for home. The Glidemaster-Holy Trout gelding drew clear to break his maiden by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.1; LGs Bluestone narrowly held second over pocket rival Its Oliver Now (Corey Callahan).
Clifton Green trains Trout Master, who increased his earnings to $14,120, for owner-breeder Dr. William Solomon.
A trio of DSBF first-round preliminary events for two-year-old pacing fillies will commence the Wednesday, Nov. 8 program at Bally's Dover. The first, a non-wagering event, is due off at 4:10 p.m. EST, while the other two kick off a 15-race pari-mutuel program with a 4:30 p.m. first post.
On Higher Ground won the $26,000 Open Handicap Trot on the Tuesday evening card with Russell Foster providing the winning drive.
Favoured Crystal Fashion surged to the early lead from post eight while On Higher Ground floated on the outside en route to the quarter in :27.1. He accelerated to the top and Crystal Fashion was forced to take a pocket seat. After marching to the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4, On Higher Ground remained on cruise control into the stretch. He won by three-quarters of a length in 1:54 over Crystal Fashion (Tim Tetrick) and I Get It (Victory Kirby).
Owned by Robert Weinstein and JB Racing, the six-year-old Cassis gelding is trained by Jennifer Bongiorno.
On Thursday, Nov. 9, Bally's Dover will feature the three-year-old Matron Stakes in races six, eight, 10 and 12. Confederate headlines the card, set to race in the 12th race, $170,850 Matron Stakes for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. Race 12 will also honouring former Brandywine Raceway President Hap Hanson. There is a Pick-5 carryover of $845.39 on races six through 10 and a Pentafecta carryover of $1,207.77 on the 15th race.
Bally's Dover races Monday through Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. first race post.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Bally's Dover)