DOVER, Del.— For the third straight start, Emeritus Maximus toyed with a sub-1:50 harness racing victory, and this week he did it pacing a 1:49.3 mile to win the $30,000 Delaware Special Handicap on Thursday, March 9 at Dover Downs where fast times were the norm led by a 1:49.3, two in 1:50.1, two in 1:50.2 and a 1:50.3 clocking.
Yannick Gingras was in the bike behind the seven-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Eternity's Delight horse and despite his toughest trip, he posted his seventh win in 10 starts in 2017. Leaving fast from the outside, Gingras elected to back Emeritus Maximus into third during a :25.4 opening quarter. Quickly on the move in front of the grandstand the pacer took over at the half in :54. There was plenty of activity on the backstretch zooming past the three-quarters in 1:21.2. Rounding the final turn, art Stafford Jr. and Blazing Bobby Sox were four wide and coming on strongly. At the wire, Emeritus Maximus held on to beat Sweet Rock (Allan Davis) with Blazing Bobby Sox third.
Claimed by Don Marine and Brent Hall on Jan. 19, Emeritus Maximus, trained by Kyle Moore, has started seven times and now has stepped up the ladder winning five times including the last three Del Specials. He now won $65,645 this year. A former expensive yearling and juvenile stakes threat before setbacks. He has now won 21 races in his career banking $470,125 lifetime.
Montrell Teague and Mildred Ventriglio's Major Uptrend are also streaking. The Somebeachsomewhere-Tricky Tooshie gelding won for the third consecutive start chalking up a 1;49.4 triumph in the $20,000 Open Handicap. Jet Airway (Corley Callahan) was a strong second in front of Rockinonby (Tony Morgan). Tim Crissman conditions the winner of four of eight starts this year. The win was the 28th lifetime for the $291,333 earner.
Richard Stansbury's All The Cookies, trained by Kenny Mitchel and driven by Yannick Gingras, put on a game effort reducing his personal best winning time to 1:50.2 winning the first of three $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Male paces. Tip It On Back (Bret Brittingham) finished second ending a two-race win streak while McJagersonthemove (Tim Tetrick) was the show horse.
In the second $15,500 event, Poisonous and Ross Wolfenden came from far off-the-pace to overtake Rangers Sureshot (Gingras) and front pacing Little Ben (Tetrick) for a lifetime best 1:50.2 victory. Josh Green owns and conditions the Art Major-She's Poison five-year old.
The third division went to Cloud Speed with Art Stafford Jr in 1:50.1. Stafford hustled the Dragon Again-Cams Exotic gelding, owned by Ben Stafford and Bill Daggett, into the lead before the half and continued on for his fourth win in eight starts this season.
Steady Warrior made it four straight wins scoring a 1:50.1 decision in a $12,000 Male Pace. Yannick Gingras piloted the victory for Frank Canzone and owner-trainer Ed Gannon Jr. A six-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty-Latin Liftoff, he held off Toatsmygoats (Pat Berry), second and Smart Rokker (Morgan), third.
Gingras had a driving triple, Corey Callahan and owner-trainer Dylan Davis had two wins each.
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Marv Bachrad