Through his two- and three-year-old seasons, the GTY Stable homebred Gaitway Guy competed in 12 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) races — and won all of them. He completed his state-restricted stakes campaign on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Bally's Dover with a 1:54.2 win in the $110,000 DSBF series final for three-year-old male pacers, and in doing so, he became the 10th horse since the 2002 inception of the DSBF to sweep all four championships.
Gaitway Guy was widest on the track of five horses who left in pursuit of the early lead, and driver Corey Callahan reined him into the third spot behind early pacesetters Nottes Mist (Allan Davis) and Night Terror (Art Stafford Jr.) at the end of a :27 first quarter. As Nottes Mist rated a :56.3 half, Gaitway Guy began his first-over push and the Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover gelding struck the front with five-sixteenths to go. Once he put away Nottes Mist past three-quarters in 1:24.2, Gaitway Guy stretched clear of his seven rivals, opening his lead to two lengths in upper stretch and ultimately evading runner-up Bad Boy Too (Simon Allard) by 1-1/2 lengths. Night Terror saved third.
Jeff Smith trains 13-time winner Gaitway Guy, who paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favourite. With his fourth DSBF title, Gaitway Guy raised his career earnings to $304,400.
In the $20,000 DSBF consolation, Double Bags ($13.60) and driver Barton Dalious emerged from the pocket to overtake even-money favourite Cards A Flyin (Corey Callahan) up the backstretch en route to a one-length 1:55 win. Showdown Lynx (Stafford) was third. Trainer Harry Marsh Jr. co-owns and bred the Roddys Bags Again-Doubledownndirty gelding with Marilyn Marsh.
I Did It Myway wins back-to-back Opens at Dover
Tim Tetrick chose chose the overland route for I Did It Myway's second consecutive victory in the $27,500 Open on Thursday night.
Penzance Hanover (Stafford) and Jimmy Freight (AllarD) left alertly for early race position. Jimmy Freight won the early battle after being parked to the quarter in :27 while Penzance Hanover retreated to the pocket. The 3-5 betting favourite, I Did It Myway, felt content racing off the pace from fifth at the quarter.
Jimmy Freight rolled to the half in :55.4 while I Did It Myway moved to the outside approaching the half and sprinted down the backstretch in hot pursuit of Jimmy Freight. The three=quarters were marched off in 1:23.1, a :27.2 panel.
At the top of the stretch, I Did It Myway cleared the lead. Stafford sensed that Jimmy Freight was becoming leg-weary and pulled the pocket with Penzance Hanover. Mack (Montrell Teague) was closing fast from dead last. I Did It Myway accelerated in deep stretch and went on to win by two lengths in 1:51. Penzance Hanover finished second and Mack picked up the show spot.
I Did It Myway (Captaintreacherous-Flyme To The Moon) is owned by David Hamm, Evm Racing and Glenn Phillips, all from Delaware. The Chuck Crissman Jr. trainee paid $3.20 for the win.
Tetrick remained hot winning four races tonight and five races on Wednesday. Crissman joined in on the party with four training wins on the night.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Dover Downs)