LAUREL, MD. 11-26-11---Happy Tenth Stable’s Deliburnsky stumbled at the break but quickly righted himself, hustled to the lead and continued on to win the $75,000 Dave’s Friend Stakes, the feature offering this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Pedro Cotto, Jr. rode the son of Flatter for trainer Tony Wilson. The 2-year-old was winning for the third time in five starts and the second time against stakes company. Deliburnsky came into the Dave’s Friend off a romping score in the Jersey Juvenile at Monmouth.

“He was a little bit anxious in the gate,” said Cotto.  “He wanted to go out so fast he stumbled but he picked it up pretty good. I was pretty confident. I knew when I asked him he was going to respond.”

“We knew it was time to give him an opportunity in another open stakes race, said Wilson.”He’s a big horse, that’s why he stumbled leaving there a little bit. He’s got to get a little more ground under him. We’re going to go places with this guy.”

Deliburnsky , who completed the six furlong distance in 1:10.81 and won by 2-1/4 lengths, paid $6.80. Glib, the odds- on favorite, broke sluggishly, then advanced to second but was unable to threaten the winner.