Sent off as the overwhelming 1-20 favourite, Melvin G rolled to a lifetime-best 1:57.2 score — his fifth win in a row — in the second of two $27,778 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) first-round preliminary divisions for two-year-old male trotters on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at Bally's Dover.
In line to Jim Morand, Melvin G pushed forward from post seven at race's outset and easily cleared Chex Check (Tony Morgan) before completing a :28.3 first quarter. Once in control, the E L Platinum-Jersey Punk gelding maintained an uncontested lead throughout the mile, leading by as many as 4-1/2 lengths through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.3 and maintaining a 2-3/4-length advantage over Chex Check at the winning post. Yale (Art Stafford Jr.) rallied from far back to finish third.
Les Givens trains Melvin G, a five-time winner from eight starts with $132,297 in earnings, for Legacy Racing of Delaware and Nanticoke Racing. He paid $2.10 to win.
In the first division, Wolfpack Cheddar and driver Corey Callahan evaded Bucky Highway (Pat Berry) by three lengths to break his maiden in 2:00.2. Delaware Xactly (Ross Wolfenden) finished third.
Nick Callahan trains the Anders Bluestone-Filly Cheese Stake gelding, who paid $2.40 to win, for Stuart Chambers Racing, BCJM Inc. and Divine Horse Racing.
Keg Stand brushed first-over and powered to victory in Tuesday night's $34,722 Open Handicap Trot for driver Tony Morgan.
Chapheart (Pat Berry) and JL Cruze (Russell Foster) left alertly trotting to the quarter pole. The 13-year-old JL Cruze became anxious from the pocket and took command of the lead, passing the opening quarter in a wind-aided :27.3. JL Cruze continued on the lead passing the half in :56.2. Keg Stand and Morgan launched their bid from sixth and brushed first-over up the backstretch. Sinatra De Vie (Johnathan Ahle) followed in pursuit second-over and 1-2 favourite Asteroid (Tim Tetrick) chased third-over. Keg Stand sprinted past pacesetter JL Cruze after reaching the three-quarters in 1:25.1 and drew off in deep stretch to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3. Chapheart rallied up the inside for second while Asteroid rallied off cover for third.
Keg Stand, a five-year-old gelded son of Bar Hopping out of Palm Beach Bi, is owned by David Hamm and EVM Racing. The winning trainer was Nick DeVita.
Corey Callahan led all drivers with four wins on the program, Morgan had a driving triple and Frank Chick recorded an owning double.
On Wednesday, two-year-old pacing fillies will compete in the $133,100 USD Matron Stakes, which is carded as race 12. First post is 4:30 p.m. The program also includes three $20,000 USD first-round preliminary divisions of the DSBF series for two-year-old pacing fillies.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund & Bally's Dover)