Following a second-place finish last week, Dash Point Hanover, closed quickly on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7-1 to catch and pass harness racing favorite Four Staces in deep stretch for a lifetime best 1:52 to win the $20,000 4 & 5-Year-Old Claiming Allowance at Dover Downs.
With Sean Bier in the bike starting from the rail, Dash Point Hanover was content to wait as first Nuclear Dragon (Allan Davis) led early and gave up the lead to the Corey Callahan-driven Four Staces on the backstretch. Four Staces continued to lead around the final turn and through the stretch before Bier turned Sash Point Hanover loose in the stretch.
The Somebeachsomewhere-Dashaway Hanover gelding, trained by Crissy Crissman-Bier blew past on the way to a new lifetime mark winning for the sixth time this year for owner R.J. Thomas. Four Staces held on to finish second. Quick Shot (Ross Wolfenden) came on for third.
Earlier, stakes winning five-year-old Table Talk got back in the winning register as trainer-driver Bart Dalious steered a 1:54.4 win in a $5,500 Mares pace. The victory was the second of the season for the Bettor's Delight-Place At The Table
Mare owned by The Wiz Kids Stable who now has 10 career wins and earnings of $486,271. Wynnfrith (Wolfenden) and Cover Up Hall (Vic Kirby) were second and third respectively.
Ross Wolfenden and Corey Callahan made three trips each to the winner's circle while Sean Bier, Tony Morgan and trainers Tim Crissman and Nick Callahan and owner Breakaway Racing, all recorded doubles.
EMPRESS DEO GETS OUTSIDE IN $20,000 MARES OPEN HANDICAP
Empress Deo seeks repeat in the $20,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Dover Downs.
An impressive 1:52.3 winner last week, Legacy Racing’s Empress Deo has won this event two of the previous three weeks with a just-missed second by a nose in-between. Allan Davis has been her regular driver. There is plenty of talent among the opposition. Elliesjet N, racing for Josh Parker, B Spedden, K Evans and Nanticoke Racing was a fast finishing second last week for Jonathan Roberts while Tim Tetrick-driven Scandalicious cut out the early place and had to settle for third beaten a length.
Two former Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) champions who have gone on to more success are rival distaffs in the week’s top event for female pacers. Mike Pagonas’ Inititowinafortune, trained by Mike Russo, is a $637,097 career winner while Purrfect Bags, a major stakes winner while a juvenile, is owned by JoAnn Looney-King and is driven by Vic Kirby. Fashion Showdown, owned by trainer Chris White leaves from the rail with Jim Morand. The only three-year-old in the lineup, David Banks and Layfield Horses’ sharp Sayulita with Tony Morgan, is alongside. Veteran Matinee Dragon driven by Part Berry completes the hard-hitting field.
Ed Maas, Arlene Paisley and Nanticoke Racing’s Terror At Night (Morand) and L&L Stables’ Velocity Lana (Yannick Gingras) lead a $15,000 distaff pace on a strong undercard.
Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are ‘dark days’ at the track. Fine food is available while watching the races at the acclaimed Winner's Circle Restaurant Buffet. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad