After sweeping his Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) competition at Harrington Raceway in October, Thiskissformaryell was dominant in the second of two $28,169 first-round divisions of the DSBF series for two-year-old male trotters on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at Bally's Dover.

In line to Jim Morand, Thiskissformaryell sprinted to the lead from post seven with Prime Yield (Art Stafford Jr.) securing the pocket through early splits of :29.2 and 1:00. Thiskissformaryell drew clear steadily up the backstretch, extending his lead over a faltering Prime Yield to five lengths at three-quarters in 1:30.1 and completing the mile in 2:01 while under wraps. Pappys Deal (Allan Davis) sustained an extended rally for second, 5-1/4 lengths in arrears; Sweepea (Corey Callahan) finished third.

Les Givens trains five-time winner Thiskissformaryell, who paid $3.80 to win as the 4-5 favourite in his 10th start. The Iron Mine Bucky-Twin B Kisses gelding is owned by Nanticoke Racing, James Magno, and Joseph Fonte.

In the first split, Topflight Champion, driven by trainer Eddie Dennis, recovered from an early break for the victory. He was a gapped sixth after the miscue through :29.4 and 1:00.3 fractions, then took the lead before three-quarters in 1:31.2 with a brush up the backstretch en route to a 9-1/2-length, 2:02.1 win over Wings Of Steel (Russell Foster), with Sunny Blue Rock (Troy Beyer) third. The winning Top Flight Angel-Js Foxy Lady colt, who paid $3.80 to win, is now a two-time winner in four outings for E & K Stable Inc. and Robert Nibblett Jr.

The second preliminary round of the Dover DSBF series for two-year-old male trotters will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The top eight point earners from both preliminary rounds will meet in a $110,000 USD final on Nov. 25.

In the overnight feature on the card, Navy Blue stormed home to upset at 14-1 in the $35,211 Open Handicap Trot. Duly Resolved (Montrell Teague) was sent in action and was parked three-wide into the first turn by Victor Laszlo (Eric Davis), who accepted the pocket trip as Duly Resolved went to the front. The 3-2 favourite Speed Away (Callahan) also left for early position but settled along the pylons in fourth. Duly Resolved, last week’s winner in this event, sped past the first station in :27.1 and continued on a comfortable journey to the half in :56.2. 

Moving into the backstretch and against chilly weather conditions, Duly Resolved continued on the point with Speed Away advancing first-over to amp up the pressure. Navy Blue, driven by Art Stafford Jr., followed that rival second-over and Dyladmar (Foster) raced behind them up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:25.1. At the top of the stretch, Speed Away wore down the pacesetter from his first-over march, but Navy Blue circled three-wide and charged home to win in 1:55.2 by a half-length. All Wrapped Up (Allan Davis) took second over Duly Resolved.

Navy Blue, a six-year-old son of Anders Bluestone-Overnight Hit, is owned by Austin Stafford and F. Wyatt Starkey. Austin’s mother, Stacey Johnson-Stafford, trains the gelding, and his father, Art Stafford Jr., does the driving. Navy Blue is now 21-for-47 lifetime. He paid $31.60 for the win.

Wednesday’s card will feature the Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace and two DSBF divisions. There will be a Pick-5 carryover worth $2,192.

On Thursday, Bally's Dover will host four divisions of the Matron Stakes for three-year-olds, cared as Races 6, 8, 10, and 12.  

(Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund & Dover Downs)