Dover: Gaitway Guy, Meg A Bags score in DSBF divisions

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 1/5 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 2/5 first quarter. Not long after Marshal Dillon pulled the half back to 57 2/5, Gaitway Guy angled first-over and ground forward to engage the pace-setter nearing the far turn. The two hit three-quarters in tandem in 1:25 3/5, 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.

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.

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Meg A Bags sealed off the pocket behind 4-5 pace-setter Bad Boy Too (Simon Allard) through a 27 1/5 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 2/5. 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 2/5. 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.

--press release (DSBF)--