Thiskissformaryell made it five-for-five in Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) action as he withstood a late challenge from fellow opening-leg winner Topflight Champion to post a career-best 1:58.4 win in the first of two $28,169 second-leg preliminary events in the DSBF series for two-year-old male trotters on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Bally's Dover.
With usual driver Jim Morand at the lines for trainer Les Givens, Thiskissformaryell held his ground on the first turn in a duel with 73-1 outsider Wolfpack Bourbon (Jason Green) to secure the lead through a :29 first quarter. After a 1:00.2 half, Thiskissformaryell evaded a mild first-over bid from Pappys Deal (Allan Davis) up the backstretch before Topflight Champion (Russell Foster) mounted a bold three-wide push past three-quarters in 1:29.3. Topflight Champion got to within a head of Thiskissformaryell on the final turn, but the Iron Mine Bucky-Twin B Kisses gelding proved resolute, fending off Topflight Champion by a half length to record his sixth win from 11 starts and eclipse $150,000 in career earnings. Pappys Deal tired to third, beaten by eight lengths.
Thiskissformaryell has won all five starts in the DSBF, starting with a sweep of the first series at Harrington Raceway. The gelding, who races for Nanticoke Racing Inc. and breeders James Magno and Joseph Fonte, now has total earnings of $153,370. He paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favourite.
In the second $28,169 section, Sweepea and driver Corey Callahan sat fifth through the quarter in :28.4 and half in 1:00, moving onto cover at the midway point before launching a three-wide push near three-quarters in 1:30.3. The gelding then closed to collar pacesetter Money Manager (Ross Wolfenden) and win by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime-best 2:00.3. Wings of Steel (Foster) finished third.
Sweepea, now a two-time winner from five starts with $38,298 in earnings, is a Top Flight Angel-Miss Popeye gelding trained by owner-breeder Tom Lail. He paid $2.80 to win.
After sweeping his preliminary legs, Thiskissformaryell leads the eight qualifiers for next Tuesday's $110,000 USD series championship. Also qualifying are Topflight Champion, Sweepea, Pappys Deal, Wings Of Steel, Money Manager, Sunny Blue Rock and Wingspan.
The overnight competition was highlighted by Navy Blue sailing to a second straight victory in the $35,211 Open Trot, his fifth win in his last seven starts.
Vlahos (Pat Berry) and All Wrapped Up (Allan Davis) played give-and-go as both trotters left quickly at the start of the race. Vlahos grabbed the early lead but released All Wrapped Up past the opening quarter in :27.4. All Wrapped Up guided the field to the half in :57 with Vlahos content to ride the pocket and 9-5 favourite Navy Blue and Art Stafford Jr. waiting patiently along the pylons in fourth. Navy Blue swung out and trotted quickly on the rim first-over up the backstretch, followed by Mickey Muscles (Wolfenden) and Victor Laszlo (Eric Davis) to three-quarters in 1:25.3.
Navy Blue surged past the pacesetter and began to draw off from the field in deep-stretch, finishing 1-3/4 lengths clear and completing the mile in 1:55. Mickey Muscles finished second, followed by Victor Laszlo.
Navy Blue, a five-time winner in eight starts this year, is owned by Austin Stafford and Wyatt Starkey and trained by Stacy Johnson-Stafford. The six-year-old son of Anders Bluestone-Overnight Hit is now 22-for-48 lifetime with earnings of $410,873. He paid $5.60 to win.
The next card at Dover on Wednesday will feature two $20,000 USD DSBF second-leg divisions for rookie pacing fillies and a $25,000 USD Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace. There will be a $6,777 superfecta carryover. First post is 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday, there will be a pair of $35,000 USD Progress Pace eliminations, with two fields of seven three-year-olds competing for spots in the final. The Progress Pace eliminations take place in the 12th and 14th races on the 15-race card. The top four horses in each elimination race will compete for the estimated $250,000 USD Progress Pace Final on Nov. 26.
(With files from DSBF & Dover Downs)