Dover: Pretty Two, Platinum Max prevail in DSBF divisions

Odds-on favorites were shut out in the second round of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series for 3-year-old male trotters at Bally's Dover as both Pretty Two and Platinum Max upended odds-on choices in their respective $20,000 splits on Tuesday (Dec. 10).

In the first division, 5-2 second choice Pretty Two and driver Cody Poliseno vacated the pocket up the backstretch to wear down pace-setter Ronnie Ridge (driven by Tony Morgan) and then withstood a late charge from 1-5 favorite Workslikeacharm (Tim Tetrick) to win by a nose in 1:56 2/5. LG's Bluestone (Ross Wolfenden) finished third.

Carlo Poliseno trains eight-time winner Pretty Two, a Dusty Winner-I Concur gelding who competes as a homebred for Jane Dunavant. He paid $7.80 to win.

The second division saw 10-1 shot Platinum Max and driver Troy Beyer yield for a pocket ride behind 1-2 choice LG's Jaxon (Jim Morand), stalk an intensifying duel between that rival and the first-over Portnoy (Montrell Teague) up the backstretch, and then dive to the open stretch to take the lead and evade stablemate Chief Funster (Trae Porter) by 1 1/2 lengths to win in 1:58. LG's Jaxon was a beaten third.

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Ron Millman trains three-time winner Platinum Max, a gelded son of E L Platinum-Hybrid Hedy who paid $22.40 to win, for owner Kelsey Wagner.

Preliminary winners LG's Jaxon, Platinum Max, Pretty Two and Workslikeacharm will be joined in next Tuesday's (Dec. 17) $110,000 series final by Ronnie Ridge, Chief Funster, LG's Bluestone and Trout Master.

Sophomore pacing fillies take center stage at Bally's Dover on Wednesday (Dec. 11), with three $20,000 DSBF second-round splits - one conducted as a non-wagering event at 4:10 p.m. (EST), the other two at the front of a 14-race pari-mutuel card - sharing top billing. First post for the main program is 4:30 p.m.

--press release (DSBF)--