GTY Stable's homebred Gaitway Guy withstood a sustained first-over attack to score his second preliminary win in the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series for three-year-old male pacers at Bally's Dover, drawing away to a handy 1:54.1 victory in his $20,000 second-round division on Thursday, Dec. 7.
Corey Callahan floated Gaitway Guy into third as fellow first-round winner Marshal Dillon (Tony Morgan) pushed clear of Night Terror (Allan Davis) through a :27.2 first quarter. Not long after Marshal Dillon pulled the half back to :57.2, Gaitway Guy angled first-over and ground forward to engage the pacesetter nearing the far turn. The two hit three-quarters in tandem in 1:25.3, and Gaitway Guy struck the front on the far turn before edging clear of his six rivals off the corner for home. The Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover easily put away Marshal Dillon at the eighth pole and sprinted three lengths clear of runner-up Big Truss (Hugh O'Neil), who followed the winner's live cover. Showdown Lynx (Art Stafford Jr.) rallied belatedly to just miss second.
Jeff Smith trains 12-time winner Gaitway Guy, who paid $2.20 to win as the overwhelming favourite and has earned $249,400 through his career.
In the other split, Meg A Bags and driver Montrell Teague took full advantage of the open stretch and converted a pocket trip into a 12-1 upset.
Meg A Bags sealed off the pocket behind 4-5 pacesetter Bad Boy Too (Simon Allard) through a :27.1 first quarter and kept close attendance to the pace as Nottes Mist (Allan Davis) mounted a first-over push from third into Bad Boy Too to three-quarters in 1:25.2. With Bad Boy Too and Nottes Mist embroiled in battle turning for home, Teague dove to the open stretch with Meg A Bags, and the Roddys Bags Again-Megginspin gelding surged forward to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.2. Bad Boy Too held second over Nottes Mist.
Jason Skinner trains Meg A Bags ($27), a four-time winner with $50,459 in career earnings, for Ryan Davila.
The eight qualifiers for next Thursday's (Dec. 14) $110,000 DSBF series final are: Gaitway Guy, Marshal Dillon, Meg A Bags, Bad Boy Too, Delightinhisglory, Big Truss, Night Terror and Nottes Mist.
Mack Rallies Late To Upset In Thursday Open
Mack and driver Montrell Teague found room along the pylons late and surged to victory in the $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace on Thursday night.
There was a three-horse scramble between Heinikin Bythebay (Victor Kirby), Sprocket (Pat Berry) and Captain Cowboy (Corey Callahan) for the early lead approaching the quarter. Heinikin Bythebay won the early battle and sped past the quarter in :26.2. Sprocket pulled the pocket and was joined by the 9-5 betting favourite Penzance Hanover )Art Stafford Jr.) past the quarter. The two pacers battled to the half in :54.2.
Penzance Hanover cleared for the lead and took control of the race leading the field down the backstretch. Virgo (Andy McCarthy) moved first over and Stag Party (Simon Allard) joined second over, both in attack mode. Mack was screaming for room from last but sat patiently along the pylons for clearance. Penzance Hanover was on a mission and maintained the lead passing the three-quarters in 1:22.1. At the top the stretch, Penzance Hanover started to bear out allowing Captain Cowboy to find room. Mack was also able to find room late along the pylons and was raging with pace.
Mack won by a nose in 1:51.1 and paid $21 for the win. Captain Cowboy finished a nose back for second while Penzance Hanover was third.
Mack (Mach Three-Backstreet Sweetie) is trained by Joe Columbo and owned by George and Tina Dennis Racing of Wyoming, Delaware.
Montrell Teague scored four driving wins while Simon Allard recorded a driving triple on the card.
Racing continues at Bally’s Dover Monday through Thursday. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Dover Downs)