Dover, DE — GTY Stable’s homebred Gaitway Guy withstood a sustained first-over attack to score his second preliminary win in the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund (DSBF) series for 3-year-old male pacers at Bally’s Dover, drawing away to a handy 1:54.1 victory in his $20,000 second-round division on Thursday (Dec. 7).

Corey Callahan floated Gaitway Guy into third as fellow first-round winner Marshal Dillon (driven by Tony Morgan) pushed clear of Night Terror (Allan Davis) through a :27.2 first quarter. Not long after Marshal Dillon pulled the half back to :57.2, Gaitway Guy angled first-over and ground forward to engage the pacesetter nearing the far turn. The two hit three-quarters in tandem in 1:25.3, and Gaitway Guy struck the front on the far turn before edging clear of his six rivals off the corner for home. The Delmarvalous-Brussels Hanover easily put away Marshal Dillon at the eighth pole and sprinted three lengths clear of runner-up Big Truss (Hugh O’Neil), who followed the winner’s live cover. Showdown Lynx (Art Stafford Jr.) rallied belatedly to just miss second.

Gaitway Guy sustained a first-over ascent and powered clear to a second consecutive DSBF preliminary win on Thursday at Bally’s Dover. Fotowon photo.

Jeff Smith trains 12-time winner Gaitway Guy, who paid $2.20 to win as the overwhelming favorite and has earned $249,400 through his career.

In the other split, Meg A Bags and driver Montrell Teague took full advantage of the open stretch and converted a pocket trip into a 12-1 upset.

Meg A Bags sealed off the pocket behind 4-5 pacesetter Bad Boy Too (Simon Allard) through a :27.1 first quarter and kept close attendance to the pace as Notte’s Mist (Allan Davis) mounted a first-over push from third into Bad Boy Too to three-quarters in 1:25.2. With Bad Boy Too and Notte’s Mist embroiled in battle turning for home, Teague dove to the open stretch with Meg A Bags, and the Roddy’s Bags Again-Megginspin gelding surged forward to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a lifetime best 1:54.2. Bad Boy Too held second over Notte’s Mist.

Jason Skinner trains Meg A Bags ($27.00), a four-time winner with $50,459 in career earnings, for Ryan Davila.

The eight qualifiers for next Thursday’s (Dec. 14) $110,000 DSBF series final are: Gaitway Guy, Marshal Dillon, Meg A Bags, Bad Boy Too, Delightinhisglory, Big Truss, Night Terror and Notte’s Mist.