A 'sloppy' harness racing track couldn't deny Fashion Showdown from uncorking a powerful 1:51.1 victory, the fourth on the card for meet-leading driver Corey Callahan in the $20,000 Mares Open/Handicap pace, Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Dover Downs.
During a daylong drizzle, Fashion Showdown left from the rail and traded places before retaking the lead. From there on Fashion Charger was tough to catch. At the 1:23.3 mark three quarters, Callahan pulled away from Hearts N Flowers (Allan Davis), challenging on outside with Matinee Dragon (Jonathan Roberts) sitting on his back, to sprint off quickly opening up lengths on the way to victory, her first in more than a month and second of the meet. Chris McInnis trains the Village Jolt-Catch The Show six-year-old for owner Chris White. It was her 17th career win hiking her bankroll to $188,005. Scandalicious (Tony Morgan), last week's winner, came from dead last to fly up for second. Duneside Chella (George Dennis) stepped up in class to finish third.
Nice Trip built up a big lead turning for home and then held off fast finishing Northern Rocknroll (Morgan) for a 1; 55 triumph in the sub-feature $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Mares pace. The win was the second for Allan Davis driving the four-year-old daughter of Jereme's Jet-Nice Package owned by Bill Sartin and Mark Salerno and conditioned by Joe Hundertfund who won for the fourth time this year in six starts. Lady Beth (Callahan) was the show horses.
B Stern, owned by Steve Moss, Hal and Helene Solomon and trainer Leigh Raymer, scored a 1:52 conquest in a $12,000 Mares pace. Ellliesjet N (Art Stafford Jr.) who closed out the 2015 portion of the meet with eight straight wins, finished second for the second straight time. Bo Tox Hanover (Sean Bier) was third. The win, her 10th lifetime, pushes the Bettor's Delight-Odds On Beth four-year-old into six digits with $104,153 purse earnings.
While Corey Callahan won four races, Vic Kirby, Allan Davis and trainer Josh Green had two wins each.
WAR CRY HALL, PANAMANIAN HANOVER HEAD $20,000 OPEN TROT
War Cry Hall seeks a third consecutive win in the $20,000 Open/Handicap trot on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at Dover Downs… First post is 4:30 p.m.
Vic Kirby takes over driving duties for the sharp closing R&H Ventures War Cry Hall after two straight coming from behind victories for trainer Jim King in the week's top trot. Another steady performer Ted Gewertz's Panamanian Hanover, reined by Tony Morgan, was placed second last Wednesday giving him two straight second-place finishes. Bluebird Reverence, owned by Holly Case, Jan Johannsen, Dee Dennis and trainer Bob Reeser with Montrell Teague in the bike, has two wins in his last four appearances.
A newcomer to recon-with is ACI Studri and Kjell Johnsson's Somebody As, a hard-hitting veteran who had been racing at Yonkers. Allan Davis will drive Five Towns who steps up in company as the LA Express Stable's starter leaves from post 1 after winning two-in-a-row. Alongside is Howard and Josh Kaufman's Drinksforthehouse, with Ross Wolfenden. Tough Mac was a beaten favorite in his last two outings. Bob Shana and Don Marine's Six Gun Hall with George Dennis has consecutive seconds and a first in his last three races.
Inner Peace (Pat Berry), owned by Craparotta&Berry Racing, a winner last week, looks for another in The $15,500 sub-feature trot, Jim Moore's Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.) has been at rthe top of his game with two wins already in 2016 Marzipan (George Dennis), owned by Frank Chick, makes his second local start, and Al Moor's Royal Status (Kirby) drew the rail.
John and Sarah Swart's Winmando (Callahan), Barba Boese's Eskimo Joe (Morgan), Barbara Kirby's Myclaimtovictory (Kim Vincent) and Bobby Glassmeyer's Tymal Signature (Roberts) from the outside complete the field. .
A pair of $12,000 trots lead a strong undercard.
Sunday, Feb. 28, is the final Sunday of racing this meet post time is 5:30 p.m., Dover Downs will race four days a week, Mondays through Thursdays in March and April. Racing begins at 4:30 p.m. No Live racing on Friday and Saturday.
Watch the races and enjoy dining in the Winners Circle Restaurant. Call 302-674-4600 for reservations.
Marv Bachrad