by Jim Whittemore, publicity director, Ocean Downs

Berlin, MD — Harness trainer Wayne Givens logged a training triple while brother Les Givens produced a driving double on Friday night at Ocean Downs.

Les Givens teamed with his brother Wayne to win the evening’s third race with Trinity Lass N, a five-year-old mare. The team posted another winner in the eighth race as six-year-old gelding Backspin N won his third of the year.

For Les Givens, who was featured in a “Meet The Horsemen” interview in front of the crowd after the first race, it was his fifth and sixth driving victories of the summer meet at the Ocean Oval.

Wayne Givens had his third win of the evening in the seventh race when Gamblers Dream, with Wayne Truitt (seven wins this meet) in the sulky, went the mile in an impressive 1:55⁴, taking the six-year-old horse over the $242,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

The driving leader in this 56th annual live meet is Ricky Still, who won Friday behind Gabrielle Franco N, a five-year-old mare who has three wins in four starts at Ocean Downs. Still now has 21 wins after Friday’s 19th day of the 40-day meet.

Ray Robinson, Jr. is second in the driver’s race with 16 wins, while Sam Belote is third with 11 first place finishes and Victor Kirby fourth with 10.

Belote posted a Friday night win in the sixth race with Mac Deelite, a five-year-old mare who won her third straight Ocean Downs race, taking the second leg of the Miss Conna Adios Late Closer.

Kirby’s win Friday was behind three-year-old filly Gemini Jeannie, who now has three wins in 2004.

Leading the trainer’s title chase this summer at the Ocean Oval are Richard Ringler and Robert Myers, Jr., each with six wins.

Racing resumes its Wednesday through Sunday schedule with 10 races on Saturday night and continues through August 28. First post is 7:25 p.m.