Dover: Primo Maschio peerless in DSBF prelim

After sweeping the summer Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series at Harrington Raceway and making a minor splash on the Grand Circuit, Primo Maschio rolled to an easy 1:53 2/5 win in his $20,000 first-round split of the DSBF series for 3-year-old male pacers at Bally's Dover on Thursday (Dec. 4).

Trae Porter moved the Badlands Hanover-Primadonna gelding to the point at the end of a 28 second opening quarter mile, clearing B Like Tony (driven by Ross Wolfenden) and leading that rival through middle splits of 56 4/5 and 1:25 1/5 before evading a mild late rally from runner-up Lew Not Lou (Jason Thompson) by 2 3/4 lengths. Wyatt Earp (Tony Morgan) took third over B Like Tony, who faded badly on the far turn after gapping the pocket.

Walter Callahan trains Primo Maschio, who has now won 17 races and earned $349,618 from 25 starts, for owner Forrest Bartlett.

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The other division saw TLB Racing's Shore Not Beach and driver Pat Berry use a 28 2/5 first quarter to clear Maximum Luck (Jason Green) before rating a 58 1/5 middle-half and accelerating in the stretch to defeat Maximum Luck by a widening 4 1/2 lengths in 1:55. Big Hunk A Money (Thompson) finished third.

Traci Berry trains Shore Not Beach, a Badlands Hanover-Azure Deo gelding who has won six of his 20 career starts and earned $162,827. He paid $2.10 to win as the overwhelming 1-20 favorite.

The second round of the December DSBF series for 3-year-olds kicks off Monday (Dec. 8), with a single $20,000 preliminary for trotting fillies carded as the fourth event on a 14-race program at Bally's Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).

--press release (DSBF)--