DOVER, DE — Elliesjet N, who has finished second four time this meet, final made the winner's circle breaking Empress Deo's three-straight winning streak in a 1:52.2 victory to win the $20,000 Mares Open Handicap on a misty, rainy Tuesday over a sloppy track, Jan. 3 at Dover Downs.
In an almost repeat of last week's distaff feature, only this time Elliesjet N stayed up at the wire with the Allan Davis driven- Empress Deo finishing second after a giant dash from last with only a neck separating the pair. Jonathan Roberts piloted Elliesjet N to her 14th career victory. The Jereme's Jet-Elle Mary Rose black seven-year-old is trained by Josh Parker who co-owns the winner with Bud Spedden , Kev Evans and Nanticoke Racing.
Empress Deo began what is now her usual charge from last in the feature race as the spead-out horses reached the backstretch. She moved up quickly but was troubled by a slow moving flow before moving three wide to the far turn and then rolled down the lane to just-miss catching leader Elliesjet N. Mischief Maker N was third for Vic Kirby. Lightning Mach N was scratched.
One three-win streak was prolonged on the card when Vintage Babe and Yannick Gingras notched a 1:53.2 triumph for her fourth consecutive victory in a $13,000 4&5-Year-Old Mares pace. Gingras, trainer Ed Gannon Jr., Frank Canzone and Bob Sabatini own the Vintage Master-Bunkhouse Babe four-year-old.
Vic Kirby and Yannick Gingras had three-baggers, George Dennis, Art Stafford Jr., owners-trainers Leigh Raymer and Jeff Clark picked up two wins each.
Kirby's three wins now gives him a 61 to 56 wins lead over runner-up vacationing Tim Tetrick.Gingras is third with 51 winners.
TOUGH MAC RETURNS IN $20,000 OPEN TROT
Tough Mac returns to action in the $20,000 Open/Handicap trot on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Dover Downs.
A Dover regular in feature trots over the past two seasons, Mike Casalino’s Tough Mac, with Corey Callahan, makes his first start since mid-December in this week’s feature trot. Tag Up And Go scored a wire-to-wire win last Wednesday with Bret Brittingham in the bike, but the Brian Clark and Adams Racing-owned veteran must leave from outside post 8. Meanwhile Uva Hanover and Tony Morgan, racing for Martin Sternberg and Stake Your Claim Stable, moves up in class following a 1:53.2 score last week.
Rich Pollucci’s Frost Free Hanover, driven by Vic Kirby, displayed a powerful second-place finish beaten a neck after being park-out for most of his start last time. Lou Man, handled by Jim Morand, has been sharp in recent starts with a second and a win, for owners John McGill and Brian Carsey. Yannick Gingras will drive another steady performer Ed Gannon’s Winbak Charles M.
The rest of the field includes Bob Shahan, Jimmy and A.M. Parson’s hard-hitting I Love My Boss piloted by Allan Davis, and Frank Chick’s Awsome Valley, driven by George Dennis.
The sub feature is a $15,000 Winners-Over trot for4& 5-Year-Olds. One of the fastest Delaware-bred trotters Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing’s Go Byem (Jim Morand), heads an eight horse field. Go Byem was parked most of the mile a week ago and still finished third missing by only a length for victory. Indiana-bred
Bluebird Reverend (Montrell Teague), owned by Dennis, Johannsen, Case and trainer Bob Reeser has a win, second, third and a fourth in his starts this meet.
The other starters are Barbara Kirby’s Myclaimtovictory (Ross Wolfenden), Mike Casalino’s Earl’s Speeder (Jonathan Roberts) has post 1 with Jovanni Vilanova’s Gillie The Kid (Tony Morgan) alongside. Charmedndangerous (Allan Davis) won her last start. Eddie Davis’ The Mater (Sean Bier), won two starts back and Bobby Glassmeyer’s Tymal Signature (Part Berry) won a qualifier last week.
by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs