With Art Stafford Jr. on the line for owner/breeder/trainer Stacy Johnson-Stafford, Yale sprinted away from three other leavers approaching the first turn and led Royalty Star (driven by Troy Beyer) through a :28.2 first quarter as Wolfpack Cheddar (Pat Berry) kept the wind in the wind and 1-5 favorite Melvin G (Tim Tetrick) was stacked three deep before retreating to the second over position with a lap to go. Yale held off Wolfpack Cheddar’s mild pressure during a half of :57.3.
On the backstretch, Wolfpack worked Cheddar to within half a length of Yale, only to fade sharply with three-eighths to go. With Melvin G failing to threaten with deteriorating coverage after three quarters in 1:27.1, Yale’s biggest danger became Royalty Star, who turned Beyer from the pins to aim for the eighth pole. Yale held firm and held off Royalty Star by half a length. Legend Of Rock (Corey Callahan) finished a ground-saving third, another 3-1/4 lengths behind.
Melvin G faded to finish sixth in the eight-horse field after being caught three-wide around the first and third turns.
YALE REPEAT
Yale, a colt by EL Platinum-Press Corp with six wins and $165,100 in earnings from nine career starts, paid $9 to win as the second choice 7-2.
In the $20,000 DSBF series consolation, Brass Survivor and driver George Dennis turned every call into a winning call en route to a 2-1/4, 1:59.1 victory over Perfect Surprise. Carlo Poliseno owns and trains the Collect The Brass-Wilsons Flame gelding, who paid $10 to win as third choice 4-1.
The $110,000 DSBF series championship for second-year fillies is scheduled as the 11th race on Wednesday’s (December 17) 15-race program at Bally’s Dover. First post is 4:30 PM (EST).
For full race results, click here: American trotting results.
of the Delaware Standardbred Breeder Fund
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