by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Hail To The Master, Power To Perform and John’s Dream opened the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund stakes season with wins in three $20,000 first leg 2-year-old male paces at Dover Downs on Thursday (Nov. 5).

Fotowon photo

Hail To The Master was a 1:53.3 winner in DSBF action on Thursday.

Hail To The Master left from the outside and quickly made the front in the first DSBF division. Race favorite Rusty Carter (Corey Callahan), the winner of the Harrington $100,000 final, made an early break and never became a factor. Art Stafford Jr. was at his best en route to a lifetime fastest 1:53.3 triumph with Hail To The Master. Cut The Beach (George Dennis) was runner-up. All Music (Montrell Teague) finished third.

Dorothy Conner trains and owns Hail To The Master, a Rustler Hanover-Morepowertoya gelding, with Chris Connor. The victory was the fourth of the year for the winner who now has earned $39,300 in his seven starts.

Tony Morgan guided Power To Perform to a 1:54.3 victory in the second $20,000 prelim pace. Don Marine owns the Kyle Moore-trained Artzina-Shake Rattle Run colt. The win was his second of the season with three thirds in 10 starts for $29,326 in earnings. Canthelpbutwin (Eric Goodell) finished second ahead of Double Miles (David Miller).

The third $20,000 DSBF prelim belonged to owner/trainer/driver Chuck Perry’s John’s Dream. A son of Dram Away-March On In, John’s Dream won his third in a row after winning the Virginia-owned freshman championship. All Artist (Jeff Fout) and Gimme The Pacifics (Ross Wolfenden) finished second and third, respectively.

The second leg preliminaries are set for Thursday (Nov. 12). The top eight point-earners after two rounds for colt and filly trotting and pacing freshmen return for $100,000 finals later this month.