Dover: Melvin G strikes again in DSBF for rookie male trotters

Sent off the overwhelming 1-20 favorite, Melvin G rolled to a lifetime-best 1:57 2/5 score - his fifth win in-a-row - in the second of two $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) first-round preliminary divisions for 2-year-old male trotters on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Bally's Dover.

In line to Jim Morand, Melvin G pushed forward from post seven at race's outset and easily cleared Chex Check (driven by Tony Morgan) before completing a 28 3/5 first quarter. Once in control, the E L Platinum-Jersey Punk gelding maintained an uncontested lead throughout the mile, leading by as many as 4 1/2 lengths through middle splits of 57 4/5 and 1:27 3/5 and maintaining a 2 3/4 length advantage over Chex Check at the winning post. Yale (Art Stafford Jr.) rallied from far back to finish third.

Les Givens trains Melvin G, a five-time winner from eight starts with $97,437 in earnings, for Legacy Racing of Delaware and Nanticoke Racing. He paid $2.10 to win.

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In the first division, Wolfpack Cheddar and driver Corey Callahan evaded Bucky Highway (Pat Berry) by three lengths to break his maiden in 2:00 2/5. Delaware Xactly (Ross Wolfenden) finished third.

Nick Callahan trains the Anders Bluestone-Filly Cheese Stake gelding, who paid $2.40 to win, for Stuart Chambers Racing, BCJM Inc. and Divine Horse Racing.

Wednesday's (Nov. 13) program at Bally's Dover features three $20,000 first-round preliminary divisions of the DSBF series for 2-year-old pacing fillies. First post for the 15-race card is 4:30 p.m. EST.

--press release (DSBF)--