by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund second leg preliminaries came to a close on Thursday (April 8) at Dover Downs with six $20,000 colt and gelding events. Tony Morgan drove three DSBF winners while Ross Wolfenden and Jim Morand also had three wins each during the program.

Golden Gladiator was a 1:53.1 winner in a DSBF colt pace.

Tony Morgan drove The Wiz Kids Stable’s Golden Gladiator to one of his three wins, taking a 1:53.1 $20,000 DSBF male pace prelim. The Powerful Toy-Golden Delicious colt scored his first win in his second start of the season. For the third straight start Never Going Away (Corey Callahan) was the bridesmaid. McMurray Hanover (Jim Morand) closed quickly for third.

Scout Hanover found an opening between horses in deep stretch and Ben Stafford, Jr. guided the Badlands Hanover-Savory Hanover gelding through for a 1:53.3 score in his $20,000 pace prelim. Lou’s Bad Yankee (Morand) closed from far back to finish second in front of Here Comes Brandon (Ross Wolfenden).

Owner-trainer Kostas Tsanakos’ Superbad Hanover delivered in another DSBF pace prelim as Ross Wolfenden steered the Badlands Hanover-Supersonic Speed colt to his second straight win and third of the year, fashioning a 1:54.3 conquest. Lucky Power (Mike Cole) was runner-up. Hulking Bloke (George Dennis) took the show spot.

The final colt and gelding pace division went to Arnie Chusid’s Colormeoutbadboy, another of Morgan’s three winners. The Badlands Hanover-Leon On Me gelding won the 1:56.3 photo, edging front pacing Cool Runnings (Eddie Davis, Jr.) and Exotic Toy (Vince Copeland) in the tight finish.

Fotowon photos

Wygant Knight scored in 1:59.1 in the non-wagering DSBF colt trot.

Par Done My Putt with veteran Wendell Donaway duplicated his first leg win by notching a 2:01.1 victory in one of the two $20,000 trots. Owned by Mike Gannon, the Par One-Aggressive Ann colt was chased home by Airborne Commando (Rod Allen) and Y M I Special (Brandon Givens), who were second and third, respectively.

In an early non-wagering DSBF trot prelim, Wygant Knight registered his first lifetime win with Morgan steering a 1:59.1 triumph. Sal Sciarrino owns the CR Commando-Rose Street Rebel gelding. Super Delegate (Eddie Moore) was second for the second straight time. Montabello Zeke (Morand) was third.