DOVER, Del. — First-round winners Papas Son (Papa Ray-Cruisinthecoast, $2.60) and Beat Cop (Dragon King-Beat The Beat, $2.10) both came roaring back in the second preliminary round of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) series for 2-year-old harness racing pacing colts and geldings with decisive wins in their respective $20,000 divisions on Thursday (Nov. 9) at Bally’s Dover. Lovenbury ($2.60) completed the trio of second-round winners.
Papas Son and driver Art Stafford Jr. sprinted to the lead from post six in the first division, clearing Cavalli Island (driven by Ross Wolfenden) through a :26.4 first quarter before rating middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:24.3. The gelding evaded his pocket rival by two lengths in 1:53.3. Shocking Truth (Allan Davis) finished third after his first-over bid stalled on the far turn.
PAPAS SON REPLAY
Les Givens trains Papas Son, now a four-time winner in eight starts with $67,624 in career earnings, for owner-breeder Stephen Messick.
Beat Cop laid down the law in the third division, improving his career record to eight wins in 11 starts with a decisive four-length score over pocket rival Come On Eddie.
Tim Tetrick sent the gelding to a clear lead over fellow first-round winner Come On Eddie (Montrell Teague) early, and the pair raced one-two through splits of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.2. Beat Cop sprinted away turning for home, leaving Come On Eddie in his wake for a 1:54.3 win. Tug River Patrick (Tony Morgan), who was shuffled to last in the field of six, reemerged off the home turn to finish third at 71-1.
Crissy Crissman-Bier trains Beat Cop, who has now banked $110,225, for owner P T Stable.
BEAT COP REPLAY
Crissman-Bier also captured the second division, which saw Lovenbury (Badlands Hanover-Major Millie) recover from a miscue before the start to break his maiden after narrowly missing Come On Eddie in the first round.
Cody Poliseno settled the gelding in fourth after bobbling at the start, and the pair commenced a first-over attack just before Chella’s Lil Devil (Davis) hit the half in :57.2 before working steadily into the lead midway around the far turn. After putting away his inside foe, Lovenbury was under siege from Southern Renegade (Jason Lynch) turning for home but prevailed by a scant nose in 1:55. Chella’s Lil Devil finished third, 4-3/4 lengths behind.
Lovenbury has earned $22,000 for Crissman-Bier and ownership partners Vincent Ferriero Jr. and Robert Lovenbury.
LOVENBURY REPLAY
The top eight point earners from the two preliminary rounds will meet next Thursday (Nov. 16) in the $110,000 DSBF final for 2-year-old male pacers.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.
From the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund