Forrest Bartlett's Deebo Hanover made every pole a winning one in his defeat of first round winner Little Instigator in his $11,644 second round division of the Bucky Gray Jr. Memorial on Tuesday, July 16 at Ocean Downs. Primo Maschio was a repeat winner in the other division for two-year-old pacers.
Montrell Teague and Deebo Hanover (pictured above) sprinted forward from post two to seat 3-5 favourite Little Instigator in the pocket through a :28.4 first quarter. After getting his prime rival behind him, the Papi Rob Hanover-Darena Hanover colt coasted unopposed through splits of :59.3 and 1:29 before accelerating home for a 1:57.1 win. Little Instigator could only muster second, 1-3/4 lengths back, while Fallon Hanover finished third.
Kevin Lare trains Deebo Hanover, who paid $4.40 in his maiden-breaking effort following near misses at Harrah's Philadelphia and Ocean Downs.
In the second division, Primo Maschio improved his record to two-for-two with a lifetime-best 1:57.1 score. Trae Porter situated the Badlands Hanover-Primadonna gelding in the pocket behind Alexandrias Dream, stalked fractions of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:29, and emerged off the home turn to down the pacesetter by 1-1/2 lengths. Brooksforreal rallied for third.
Trainer Michael Hall co-owns Primo Maschio, who paid $2.40 to win, with Let It Ride Stables and CTC Stable.
The Bucky Gray Jr. Memorial Series concludes next Tuesday, July 23 with a $12,500 USD added final for the top eight money earners from both preliminary rounds.
Racing returns to Ocean Downs on Wednesday, July 17. A pair of second round Tom Cooke Memorial divisions for two-year-old trotters and a Maryland Sire Stakes event for three-year-old trotting fillies will be contested as early events, starting at 7:05 p.m. The 13-race pari-mutuel program, featuring a Maryland Sire Stakes event for three-year-old pacing fillies and two Open events, will begin at 7:45 p.m.
(Ocean Downs)