Despite an extended first-over push up the backstretch and a stout late challenge from Bluffs Crush, the GTY Stable's homebred Gaitway Gal proved strong enough to eke out her second preliminary victory in the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund series for three-year-old pacing fillies at Bally's Dover, winning her $20,000 second-round division on Tuesday (Dec. 7) in 1:55.3 over good going. Odds On Surfer Gal rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the first round to capture the other division.

Driver Pat Berry rated the daughter of Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover in fourth while Prime Power (driven by Ross Wolfenden) worked to seat fellow leaver Smokeys Passion (Tony Morgan) in the pocket through a :27.3 first quarter. After working to within 4-1/2 lengths of the lead through a :57.2 half, Gaitway Gal began her first-over climb up the backstretch, pushing aggressively to duel with Prime Power to three-quarters in 1:26.1 — and pacing that sectional in an individually-clocked :28 while uncovered. Gaitway Gal finally put Prime Power away at the eighth pole, but her strongest threat lurked just behind her cover. Montrell Teague switched Bluffs Crush off Berry's helmet to vault three-wide off the home turn, but Gaitway Gal dug deep to prevail by a scant nose over the valiant Bluffs Crush. Smokey's Passion saved third from her pocket trip.

Jeff Smith trains 10-time winner Gaitway Gal, who paid $2.10 across the board and has now amassed $177,304 in career earnings.

The other division saw Odds On Surfer Gal and driver Corey Callahan clear for the lead from post five before yielding to 3-5 favourite Bank The Win (Victor Kirby) — who quarter-moved from third — at the end of a :27.4 first split. Odds On Surfer Gal had the run of the race from there, tracking middle splits of :58.1 and 1:26.2 before lifting up the open stretch to defeat Bank The Win by a widening half length in 1:56.3. Mistatude (Jason Thompson) finished third after her first-over push through the far turn stalled at the eighth pole.

Tony Alagna trains Odds On Surfer Gal, a Badlands Hanover-Odds On Moinet filly with five wins and $97,038 in the bank, for owner-breeder Mr. Dana Parham (as Odds On Racing and Odds On Nourrir, respectively). She paid $5.80 to win.

Second-round winners Gaitway Gal and Odds On Surfer Gal will be joined by Bank The Win, Shabby Chic, Prime Power, Bluffs Crush, Mistatude and Ky Ky in next Wendesday's (Dec. 14) $100,000 DSBF series final.

DSBF preliminary action wraps up Thursday (Dec. 8) with three-year-old pacing males contesting two second-round divisions in the early part of a 14-race card at Bally's Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).

(DSBF)