Heinikin Bythebay poised for another sweep

DOVER, Del. — KDK Standardbreds’ homebred Heinikin Bythebay (Southwind Lynx) put himself in position to claim a third of a possible four Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) series championships with a 1:52.3 win in his $20,000 second-round preliminary split for 3-year-old male harness racing pacers on Thursday (Dec. 8) at Bally’s Dover, recording his seventh win in nine seasonal starts in the act. Bad And Boujee proved a dominant 1:53 winner in the other division.

Victor Kirby vacated the pocket with 1-5 favorite Heinikin Bythebay midway on the first turn, and the gelding cleared early leader Johnny Badlands (driven by Corey Callahan) at the end of a :28.3 first quarter.

After maintaining a moderate pace to the half in :57.1, Heinkin Bythebay switched gears up the backstretch, sprinting his final sectionals in :27.4 and :27.3 on his way to a two-length win over Johnny Badlands. Cntnobdytelmenothn (Tony Morgan) made mild gains up the backstretch to finish third, another 2-1/2 lengths in arrears.

Kevin Switzer trains 14-time winner Heinkin Bythebay, who has earned $233,775 in his career. He paid $2.40 to win.

HEINKIN BYTHEBAY REPLAY

After chasing Heinikin Bythebay to finish second in the first round, Bad And Boujee (Badlands Hanover) got back in the win column in the other second-round division — but he faced a stern test from first-round winner Ds Heartland through the far turn before powering clear.

Bad And Boujee got away third in the seven-horse field before Tony Morgan pushed forward with him to clear Ds Heartland (Art Stafford Jr.) after a :27.4 first quarter. The pair sat one-two through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.1 before Ds Heartland pulled the pocket and gained to within a half-length on the final turn. Bad And Boujee found plenty more in the final eighth, parrying Ds Heartland and sprinting five lengths clear. It’s Above Me Now (Montrell Teague) rallied mildly from midfield for third.

Bad And Boujee, a nine-time winner for owner-trainer-breeder Eric Foster with $139,467 in lifetime earnings, paid $2.60 to win.

BAD AND BOUJEE REPLAY

Qualifying for next Thursday’s (Dec. 15) $100,000 DSBF final in addition to two-time preliminary winner Heinikin Bythebay and single-leg winners Bad And Boujee and Ds Heartland are: Cntnobdytelmenothn, Johnny Badlands, Step On Over, It’s Above Me Now and Business Director.

Tarkio (Betting Line) braved a coverless trip and won the $27,500 Blue Hen Open Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night.

Backstreet Shadow, the 6/5 betting favorite confidently left from post 8 and was parked by Mack to the quarter in :26.2. Backstreet Shadow was on a mission for his new connections and cut the mile.  He reached the half in 54 (:27.3)

Tarkio pulled 1st over from his 5th position after the half.  He continued to grind 1st over and looked Backstreet Shadow in the eye as they sprinted to the three quarters in 1:23.2 (:29.2) with Shoobee Doo A shadowed 2nd over on the rim.

Tarkio cleared the lead past the three-quarter pole and sprinted away from the field. He won by a measured half length.  The time of the mile was 1:52 and he paid $21 for the win.

Tarkio is owned by Legacy Racing Of De Inc and Reginald Hazzard both of Delaware.  Wayne Givens trained and Tony Morgan drove. Slick Tony finished a fast-closing 2nd and boosted his lifetime earnings to over one million dollars for trainer Nola Leager.  Montrell Teague drove. Shoobee Doo A closed late and finished 3rd for trainer Dylan Davis.  Corey Callahan drove.

TARKIO REPLAY

Tony Morgan and Art Stafford Jr. won 3 races each on the betting card.

For complete race results, click here.

From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund