With a win, second and two thirds in her last four stats, Matinee Dragon was overlooked at 56-1 in the $20,000 harness racing Mares Open Handicap, took the lead at the top of the stretch en route to a lifetime best 1:52.4 victory at Dover Downs on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Jonathan Roberts pulled Matinee Dragon out of fifth heading to the half mile post. She worked her way up to challenge front-pacing Springforth at the three quarters. After racing head-to-head around the final turn with Sage N and Cheyenne Robins stacked behind, Matinee Dragon took off to take a short lead which she held by a short head with five distaffs coming on at the wire. The win was Roberts second on the program. Matinee Dragon paid $114.40 for a $2 win ticket setting a $462.20 exacta and a $1,766.60 trifecta payoff. Sage N (Tim Tetrick) was second, Cheyenne Robin (Corey Callahan) a tight third.
In a $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Mares Winners-Over pace, Allan Davis won his second of the day steering Nice Trip to victory in 1:54.1 for trainer Joe Hunderfund and owners Bil Sartin and Mark Salerno. Naty (Roberts) came home in a hurry to take second in front of Lady Beth (Tetrick). Nice Trip, a four-year-old Jereme's Jet-Nice Package mare, won for the third time in 2016 and fifth time this meet.
Leah and Darrell Lewis' Northern Rocknroll won her fifth straight in a lifetime best 1:53.4 clocking to win a $14,000 distaff pace for young horses. Tony Morgan was winning driver of the Rockin Image-Northern Lei Ann four-year-old. Eternal Sunrise (Callahan) was a close second. Casa Miasa (George Dennis) was the third finisher.
Jerseylicious, owned by Pam Curran, Niel Gargiulo and Legacy Racing, won for the first time this year scoring a wire-to-wire 1:52.1 triumph with Allan Davis driving in a $12,000 Mares pace. B Stern (Vic Kirby) was second with Duneside Chella (Tony Morgan) third. The win was the 17th lifetime for Jerseylicious, a brown daughter of Western Ideal-Jet Lag N, who has banked $653,630 in her career.
Also on the undercard, Jerry Clark's Westsluckycam notched her fifth consecutive victory in an $11,500 3,4&5-Year-Old Fillies and mares pace. Jonathan Roberts was in the bike for her sixth win with two seconds in nine lifetime starts for the Camluck-Terror Of The West filly.
Allan Davis, Vic Kirby, Corey Callahan, Montrell Teague and Jonathan Roberts all had driving doubles.
BLUEBIRD REVEREND, TOUGH MAC HEAD WEDNESDAY $20,000 TROT
Bluebird Reverend and Tough Mac head a select field of six while newcomer Marzipan makes his local debut in a $15,500 4&5-Year-Old trot on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Dover Downs… First post is 4:30 p.m.
Montrell Teague will steer Bluebird Reverence from outside post 6. The Indiana –sired gelding is one of two four-year-olds in the lineup. The winner of two of his last three Open starts for Holly Case, Jan Johannsen, Dee Dennis and trainer Bob Reeser, is joined by the other four-year-old Howard and Josh Kaufman’s Drinksforthehouse, fresh from a strong 1:55.1 victory last time. Ross Wolfenden will drive. Tough Mac was a beaten favorite in his last two outings. Corey Callahan will drive for owner Mike Casalino.
R&H Ventures War Cry Hall with Tim Tetrick also was a winner in his last start two weeks ago. Ted Gewertz’s Panamanian Hanover, again draws the rail, after Tony Morgan guided a second-place finish last week. Callan Racing’s steady Spunky Jack and Roger Plante, with two seconds and a third in his last three, leaves alongside.
In The $15,500 sub-feature, Marzipan (George Dennis), a recent purchase by owner Frank Chick, makes his local debut, starting from the outside in a field of nine. Kolbee’s Star (Callahan), with three wins in his last four leave from the second tier. Craparotta&Berry Racing’s Inner Peace who made his first start of 2016 a success with Pat Berry and Jim Moore’s Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.) placed first last start, have winning credentials.
Triple D Stables and CC Racing’s Stirling Diva (Ross Wolfenden), Bob Shahan’s Machuca ( Allan Davis), Eric Good and trainer Gary Simpson’s Adrenalin Junkie (Jim Morand), Al Moor’s Royal Status (Vic Kirby) and John and Sarah Swart’s Winmando (Vince Copeland) cannot be overlooked.
A $14,000, a $12,000 and two $11,500 trots lead the strong undercard.
Marv Bachrad