Art Stafford Jr. and Wyatt Starkey's Navy Blue lived up to his 1-20 favouritism for the second consecutive week in the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund series for three-year-old male trotters at Bally's Dover, posting a comfortable 1:58.4 win in his $20,000 second-round division on a rainy Tuesday (Dec. 6).
Stafford, who also trains and drove the Anders Bluestone-Overnight Hit gelding, took his time in the early stages, allowing Snow Burst (driven by Allan Davis) and Wolfpack Russ (Corey Callahan) to duel before brushing Navy Blue from third and clearing for the lead just past a :29 quarter. From that point, Navy Blue faced nary a challenge, coasting through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:29.1 and opening up a five-length lead on the final turn. Stafford then took Navy Blue in hand through the stretch to win by a geared-down 1-1/2 lengths over Snow Burst. Sunset Sail (Tony Morgan) improved gradually up the backstretch to take third.
Navy Blue, now an 11-time winner with $167,986 in lifetime earnings, paid $2.10 across the board.
The other division winner, Big Daddy D, also won in 1:58.4 off a third-to-first move, but it took the Dusty Winner-Do We Lindy gelding and driver Cody Poliseno much longer to clear the lead, grinding first-over through a :57.1 half before wearing down and clearing Embrace The Stone (Tim Tetrick) midway up the backstretch. Despite slowing considerably in the stretch, Big Daddy D held his ground to stave off a wide rally from Tua (Montrell Teague) by three-quarters of a length. LGs Reed O Wen (Jim Morand) preserved third after losing cover nearing the far turn.
Carlo Poliseno trains seven-time winner Big Daddy D, who returned $4.60, for owner-breeder Jane Dunavant.
Navy Blue and Big Daddy D secured spots in next Tuesday's (Dec. 13) $100,000 DSBF series final, along with JAs Bluestone, LGs Reed O Wen, Snowburst, Tua, Sunset Sail and Embrace The Stone.
In the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot, Mississippi Storm rolled to victory over the rain-soaked race course.
Northern Express (Russell Foster) and Crystal Fashion (Tim Tetrick) were the first off of the gate and battled to the front. Favoured Crystal Fashion seized control of the field and Northern Express accepted the pocket. Victor Kirby floated off the gate with Mississippi Storm, settling into fifth in the first turn. They reached the opening quarter in :27.2 and half in :57.1. Mississippi Storm angled to the outside and inched his way into contention down the back stretch without cover. Star Razor (Corey Callahan) followed second over to the three quarters in 1:26.1. Crystal Fashion dug in, bracing for the challenge by Mississippi Storm. In the stretch, Mississippi Storm wore down Crystal Fashion to win by a length in 1:56. Northern Express benefitted from the pocket trip and closed up the rail to finish second. Secret Jet (Allan Davis) finished out the ticket.
Mississippi Storm paid $6.80 to win in his third victory in his last four starts. A Tom Fanning trainee, Mississippi Storm is owned by Joseph E. Smith.
Racing continues at Bally's Dover on Wednesday (Dec. 7) when three-year-old pacing fillies will contest their second DSBF preliminary, with two $20,000 divisions kicking off a 14-race card. First post is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Dover Downs)