Dover: Navy Blue gets the gold in DSBF final

Navy Blue completed a sweep of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund series for 3-year-old male trotters at Bally's Dover with a lifetime-best 1:56 2/5 clocking in Tuesday's (Dec. 13) $100,000 championship event - but he was forced to employ new tactics to get the job done.

With fellow second round winner Big Daddy D leaving aggressively to control the terms, trainer-driver Art Stafford Jr. rode the pocket with Navy Blue through almost the first half of the race before angling outside and dueling the pace-setter down through the home turn en route to a two length victory.

Big Daddy D, driven by Cody Poliseno, burst clear through the first 100 yards. Navy Blue, who came away third, worked alongside Tua (driven by Montrell Teague) through the first turn before landing in the second spot before a 28 3/5 first quarter. Navy Blue drafted contently behind Big Daddy D through a measured 58 1/5 half before Stafford Jr. switched him off the pegs with just over three-eighths of the one-mile race remaining.

Navy Blue stuck his nose in front at the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters, put away Big Daddy D on the final turn, and used a 29 1/5 closing quarter to edge away. Big Daddy D was an isolated second, 4 1/4 lengths better than JAs Bluestone (Victor Kirby), who rallied gradually into third.

Stafford Jr., who also bred Navy Blue, shares ownership in the Anders Bluestone-Overnight Hit gelding with Wyatt Starkey. Now a 12-time winner from 16 starts, Navy Blue has banked $217,986 thus far in his career. He paid $2.40 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

In the $20,000 DSBF consolation, Canoe Trip outlasted a late challenge from Little Georgie to win by a half-length in 2:00 4/5. Allan Davis drove the Anders Bluestone-Political Starlet gelding for trainer Linda MacDonald. Owner Shirley Shand bred the four-time winner in partnership with late harness racing publicist Marv Bachrad's Serendipity Stable.

--press release (DSBF)--