AT DOVER, Del—- Art Stafford Jr. took Celebrity Pegasus to the front and then took no prisoners along the way to a lifetime best equaling 1:53.3 harness racing conquest in the Wednesday, Jan. 25 $15,000 Mares 4&5-Year-Old Winners-Over trot at Dover Downs on Jan. 25.
A five-year-old by Andover Hall-Celebrity Athena, Celebrity Pegasus had been racing well since her last win in late November three consecutive seconds, a third and a fifth last week, but a change in post positions, from the outside to post 2 did the trick for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms. A 15-1 shot Machuca (Tony Morgan) finished second in front of fast closing Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.). The brown trotter won for the13th time and now has won $154,010 lifetime.
Tony Morgan won his third of four wins during the day guiding Richard Gutnick and TLP Stable's Moonlight Cocktail, trained by Linda Toscano, to a career fastest 1:54.4 triumph from post 8 in the $13,500 semi feature. A Canadian stakes seasoned daughter of Kadabra-Angustura, it marked the four-year-old's third straight victory. Streamsong (Jonathan Roberts) led for most of the mile holding on for second-place. Myclaimtovictory (Kim Vincent) was third.
Morgan, who is the second-leading dash winning driver in North America, finished the program with four trips to the winner's circle. Ross Wolfenden, Yannick Gingras and Art Stafford Jr. had two wins each.
BUSHWACKER, ARQUE HANOVER STREAKS ON LINE IN $30,000 PACE
Bushwacker and Arque Hanover, winners of the last two $30,000 Preferred paces drew outside posts this week while Jet Airway seeks a third straight win in the $21,000 Open on another outstand out Thursday program, Jan. 26 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
Post 8 could not deny Corey Callahan from driving Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker from scoring a 1:49.3 victory in the Preferred. It was the first sub 1:50 clocking of 2017, and the Chris Ryder-trainee’s second consecutive victory. The week before, the six-year-old won the $20,000 Open in 1:51 wire-to-wire. To his inside, Abe Basen, Tom Lazzaro and Robert Cooper Stable’s Arque Hanover has been equally as sharp winning three of his last four outings. Yannick Gingras is his pilot in this one. After a week off, Rich Lombard and L&J Racing’s $1.5-million winner Dancin Yankee with Tony Morgan has a second and a win in his last two races.
The power-packed feature field also has another all-time rich campaigner $2.5-million winner, Clear Vision, racing for Weaver Bruscemi, Jay Koran, Panhellenic and Burke Racing stables. George&Tina Dennis’ stalwart Seventh Secret is in rare form. Sweet Rock and Allan Davis finished a game second last time for G.P. Calloway, Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing. Not to be overlooked, Janet Hudson and JoAnn Looney King’s Little Ben has been one of the meet’s top horses. Though Soto ay be overlooked, the five-year-old owned by Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta has drawn outside in his last two but gets the rail this week and will be a tough one to catch while on the lead.
There’s plenty of speed and talent in the $21,000 Open Handicap. Jet Airway Callahan) has won his last two races, and starts from post 8 in the nine-horse lineup. Al Carter and trainer Doug Lewis’ Captive Audience (Gingras), J.L. Sadowsky’s Te Kawau N (Daryl Bier), Bill Sartin and Mark Salerno’s Special T Rocks (Jim Morand), drew post 4 this time after post 8 last start.
Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing’s Sicily (Allan Davis) and Cliff Grundy’s Screaman Seaman A (Kirby) leaving from post 9 in the second tier, plus two newcomers to the Open ranks, Niss Allen inc.’s Rockinonby (Tony Morgan) from the rail and Angela Coombs’ recent claim Skyful Of Lighters (Jason Thompson).
When at the track enjoy racing and tasty food in the Winners Circle Restaurant acclaimed buffet. Call for reservations at 302-674-4600. Harness and Thoroughbred Simulcasting daily 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs Race and Sports Book in the Colonnade. There is no charge for parking or admission at Dover Downs. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are dark days for live racing at Dover Downs. Weekdays – Monday through Thursday – racing begins at 4:30 p.m.
Marv Bachrad