KDK Standardbreds' homebred Heinikin Bythebay put himself in position to claim a third of a possible four Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund series championships with a 1:52.3 win in his $20,000 second-round preliminary split for three-year-old male 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 favourite Heinikin Bythebay midway on the first turn, and the Southwind Lynx 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.
After chasing Heinikin Bythebay to finish second in the first round, Bad And Boujee 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.
Qualifying for next Thursday's (Dec. 15) $100,000 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.
In the Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace, Tarkio braved a coverless trip to collect the winner's share of the $27,500 purse.
Favoured Backstreet Shadow, debuting for Jim King, Jr., left confidently from post position eight. After getting parked by Mack through the :26.2 opening panel, Backstreet Shadow cleared to the top to cut the half in :54. After the half, Tony Morgan pulled Tarkio first-over from fifth. The pair dug deep to challenge leading Backstreet Shadow to the three-quarters in 1:23.2, Shoobee Doo A followed the cover. Tarkio broke away from the field down the stretch and won by a measured half length.
Tarkio is a four-year-old Betting Line gelding trained by Wayne Givens for Legacy Racing of Delaware Inc. and Reginald Hazzard.
Slick Tony (Montrell Teague) finished a fast closing second, sending him over $1 million in career earnings. Shoobee Doo A (Corey Callahan) finished third.
Tony Morgan and Art Stafford Jr. each won three races on the card.
Racing at Bally's Dover continues on Monday (Dec. 12). First post is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and Bally's Dover)