Trotter scores sixth straight in DSBF prelim

DOVER, Del. — Legacy Racing of Delaware and Nanticoke Racing’s Melvin G (E L Platinum-Jersey Punk) rolled to his sixth consecutive harness racing victory on Tuesday (Nov. 19) at Bally’s Dover, leaving his five rivals well behind en route to a 1:57.2 score in the faster of two $20,000 second-round divisions of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund series for 2-year-old male trotters.

With two horses breaking stride before the start, Melvin G and driver Jim Morand only had three rivals to contend with at race’s outset, and they pushed through at the pegs to seat Perfect Suprise (Pat Berry) in the pocket through a :29 first quarter. After rating a :58.4 half, Melvin G began to pull away from the others, extending his margin to 2-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:28 before passing the winning post five lengths clear of the late-gaining Legend Of Rock (Corey Callahan) while geared down. Perfect Suprise faded to third.

MELVIN G REPLAY

Les Givens trains Melvin G, a gelding whose sixth win from nine starts pushed him over $100,000 in lifetime earnings. He paid $2.10 to win as the 1-20 favorite.

The first division saw second-time starter Yale (E L Platinum) and trainer-driver Art Stafford Jr. narrowly hold off Chex Check for a 1:58.4 win.

After finishing third to Melvin G on debut last week, Yale sustained a two-wide push through the first turn to work clear of Wolfpack Cheddar (Callahan) past a :28.4 first quarter before yielding for the pocket with a circuit to go. The E L Platinum-Press Corp colt pulled the pocket past three-quarters in 1:29, reeled in Wolfpack Cheddar, and evaded a late push from Chex Check (Tony Morgan) up the open stretch to win in 1:58.4. Bucky Highway (Berry) rallied to finish third over the engulfed Wolfpack Cheddar.

YALE REPLAY

Yale, who paid $6.00 to win as the 2-1 second choice, competes as a homebred for Stacy Johnson-Stafford.

In addition to Melvin G, Yale, and first-round winner Wolfpack Cheddar, the following horses have qualified for the $110,000 DSBF series final, to be held Nov. 26: Chex Check, Bucky Highway, Legend Of Rock, Delaware Exactly and Perfect Suprise.

The second round of the 2-year-old pacing filly series takes place Wednesday (Nov. 20), with three $20,000 divisions programmed as the first, fourth and sixth events on a 15-race card. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).

Chapheart (Chapter Seven) survived early interference and won the $25,000 Open Trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night (Nov. 19).

Crystal Fashion and 2-5 favorite Herodotus slugged it out early approaching the quarter pole. Herodotus earned the lead after passing the opening quarter in :27.3. Herodotus continued on the engine and led the field to half comfortably in :56.2 as the field followed in single file. Chapehart chased first-over up the backstretch to challenge Herodotus, and the two trotters raced as a team to the three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Both trotters drew off from the field in the stretch, but Chapheart won by two lengths in 1:53.1. Herodotus finished second; Outside The Fire was third.

CHAPHEART REPLAY

Chapheart, a 5-year-old gelding who paid $9.20 to win, is owned by Michael Casalino Jr. and Dylan Davis Racing. Davis also trains. Pat Berry drove.

Tim Tetrick drove five winners on the card.

Majorca N and Incaseyoudidntknow square off in the $25,000 Mares Open Pace on Wednesday (Nov. 20).

The Progress Pace elimination with a field of 11 will take place as the 10th race on Thursday (Nov. 21); the Progress Pace final, with an estimated purse of $250,000, will be raced on Nov. 27.

Bally’s Dover races Monday trhough Thursday with a post time of 4:30 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund