Kodack Black lived up to his prohibitive 1-20 favouritism in the second of two $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) first-round preliminary events for three-year-old male trotters on Tuesday (Nov. 28) at Bally's Dover by way of a commanding 1:58.3 score while Paleface rode the pocket to a 2:01.2 score in the other division.
Kodack Black, who won the summer DSBF series title at Harrington Raceway in July, looked strong kicking off his quest for a second DSBF title, sprinting to the early lead in line to Montrell Teague before yielding control briefly to Perfect Twenty (Victor Kirby) and immediately retaking for the top after a :29.2 first quarter. With a lap to go, Perfect Twenty broke stride, enabling Royal Mistake (Justin Vincent) to inherit second, but Kodack Black maintained a clear lead on his four rivals through middle splits of :59 and 1:28.3. The gelded son of Kodak Lindy-Love On Broadway drew 9-1/4 lengths clear to record his ninth win of the season. Hespookshescores (Russell Foster), who saved ground the entire journey, lifted up the open stretch to collar Royal Mistake for second in the final 50 yards.
Kodack Black, a 12-time winner with $197,979 in career earnings, is trained by Clyde Francis for George Teague Jr. Inc., David Collins and Lakiyah Teachey. He paid $2.10 to win.
In the first division, conducted as a non-wagering event, Paleface and trainer/driver Ross Shand sat behind Reddy Fox (Art Stafford Jr.) through splits of :30, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4 before emerging out of the pocket turning for home. The Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst gelding reeled in Reddy Fox in mid-stretch and edged clear by 1-1/4 lengths to win in 2:01.2. Youngbuck (Corey Callahan) finished third after his brief first-over challenge stalled off the far turn.
Paleface, a seven-time winner, has earned $74,712 for owner/breeder Shirley Shand.
Fifty Ways Upsets In Open Handicap Trot
Fifty Ways found one way to the winner's circle to upset the field in the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot on Tuesday evening.
JL Cruze (Stafford Jr.) trotted quickly from the gate, but was parked to the quarter in :28.1 by I Get It (Kirby) before taking over. After the :57.1 half, On Higher Ground (Foster) braved the cold wind to move first-over with Fifty Ways followed his cover for Ross Wolfenden. JL Cruze braced for the challenge and led the field past the three-quarters in 1:26. Fifty Ways vacated his position second-over and circled the field three-wide at the top of the stretch. He survived a four-horse blanket finish to win by a nose in 1:56.1. I Get It was second and That Ole Bar Stool (Callahan) was third.
George and Tina Dennis own the winner, a five-year-old Donato Hanover gelding who is trained by Joe Columbo.
Wednesday's DSBF action features three-year-old pacing fillies squaring off in a pair of $20,000 first-round preliminary events, scheduled at the top of a 15-race card. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Bally's Dover)