$110,000 final won in grand slam for Gaitway Guy

DOVER, Del. — Through his 2 and 3-year-old harness racing seasons, the GTY Stable homebred Gaitway Guy (Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover) 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 3-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 Notte’s Mist (driven by Allan Davis) and Night Terror (Art Stafford Jr.) at the end of a :27 first quarter.

As Notte’s Mist rated a :56.3 half, Gaitway Guy began his first-over push, the gelding struck the front with five-sixteenths to go. Once he put away Notte’s 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.

GAITWAY GUY REPLAY

Jeff Smith trains 13-time winner Gaitway Guy, who paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite. With his fourth DSBF title, Gaitway Guy raised his career earnings to $304,400.

The $20,000 DSBF consolation saw Double Bags ($13.60) and driver Barton Dalious emerge from the pocket to overtake even-money favorite 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 Roddy’s Bags Again-Doubledownndirty gelding with Marilyn Marsh.

From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund

I Did It Myway (Captaintreacherous) and driver Tim Tetrick chose the overland route for his second consecutive victory in the $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace.

Penzance Hanover (Art Stafford, Jr.) and Jimmy Freight (Simon Allard) left alertly for early race position. Jimmy Freight won the early battle after being parked to the quarter in :27.

The 3/5 betting favorite, I Did It Myway felt content racing off the pace from 5th at the quarter.

Jimmy Freight rolled to the half in :55.4 as 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 quarter.

At the top of the stretch, I Did It Myway cleared to the lead.  Pocket rocket, Penzance Hanover, sensed that Jimmy Freight was becoming leg weary pulled the pocket. Mack was closing fast from dead last.

I Did It Myway accelerated in deep stretch and went on to win by 2 lengths in 1:51. He paid $3.20 for the win.

I DID IT MYWAY REPLAY

I Did It Myway is owned by Hamm, Evm Racing, Glenn Phillips all from Delaware and is trained by Chuck Crissman Jr. Penzance Hanover finished second. Mack (Montrell Teague) was third.

Driver Tim Tetrick remained hot winning 4 races tonight and 5 races on Wednesday.  Trainer Chuck Crissman joined in on the party with 4 training wins.

Bally’s Dover races Monday through Thursday. Post Time is 4:30 pm.

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

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover