The horses that followed across the finish line, Todd Wise's Fresco Blue piloted by Mike Cole, Arty Foster Jr.'s The Other Cheek with Tony Morgan and Rodney Long's Bad Rusty and Ross Wolfenden, were four horses only separated by three-quarters of a length.

The other contenders are Archie Peel and Howard Birney's Chipoffablueblock with Jim Morand, Carter Racing Stable's Rusty's For Real teamed with Brad Hanners, Brian Callahan's Wynnfield Flash with Vince Copeland in the bike.

In the first of two $12,500 DSBF eligible 4&5-Year-Old Pacing Series, two starters are fresh from wins last time out. Gary and Barbara Iles' I'm Outtahair (Montrell Teague) has won four races this year including his last two straight. Royal Camelot (Bret Brittingham) won last time but starts from post 8. Mike Horsey's As Bad As Thunder (Corey Callahan) has been super sharp with two consecutive victories.

The rest of the field is Tom Kelly and Margaret Mancini's Latest Buzz (Brad Hanners), Freedom Soldier (George Dennis) owned by Joe Thomson, Del Cote and Henry Faragalli Jr. and III. Tom Clendining's Trey (Jim Morand) and Greg Price's Make A Joyfulnoise (Bret Brittingham.

In the second $12,500 prelim, Ian Fromowitz's Melvin's Dream (Tony Morgan) returns to Delaware after five wins in six starts at the Meadowlands. Allan Pullman and Barry Glickstein's homebred Three Swings (Allan Davis) has won his last two in a row and Only Money Inc.'s Prince Of Badlands (Brad Hanners) won his last outing.

The rest of the field is made up by Dale Milby's Jolt (Frank Milby), Bob Collins' With A Twist (Jim Morand), John Dennis' Town Squire, El Cerrito owned by driver Roger Plante and The Rodney Wyatt's Monahans Magix (Corey Callahan).

The Delaware-sired DSBF series second round is scheduled for next Thursday.

Marv BACHRAD