Gural Hanover, who won only two races last year, turned in his second straight trip to the winner's circle at Dover Downs on Wednesday, May 16 romping to a 1:53 harness racing victory in the $24,000 Open trot.
With Andrew McCarthy driving the Crazed-Givemearing gelding, Gural Hanover final took command after a :26.3 opening quarter and proved the best from there. Weaver Bruscemi, Little E, Pahellenic and Burke Racing stables own the classy five-year-old who now has earned $78,124 in his career. War Cry Hall, last weeks winner, charged down the passing lane for Tim Tetrick to edge Somebody AS and Vic Kirby for second money. It ended Somebody AS' two-win streak.
In the $18,500 sub-feature, when race-favorite Celebrity Pepgus broke stride early, Jackie Parker took over driving Jim Moore III's Royal Becca J and the four-year-old RC Royalty-Becca J gelding led the rest of a 1:55.3 mile to win for the second time in his last three starts. In fact Royal Becca J has been ultra-consistent in his last six starts with three wins and three seconds. Machuca (Ross Wolfenden) raced on the outside for most of the contest and held on for second. Royal Status (Kirby) was the show horse.
Rich Pollucci's Maestro Blue Chip gave Tim Tetrick his second win holding off Spunky Jack (Roger Plante) by a head in 1:54.2 to extend his win streak to five in-a-row in a $17,000 Winners-Over trot. The Credit Winner-Up Front Hotsey four-year-old remains undefeated in 2016 and lifts his season bankroll to $30,750 and $109,173 lifetime. Awsome Valley (Tony Morgan) was third.
Steel Reserve got up for his first win of the season, catching Ah Me (Carlo Poliseno) in the final strides for a 1:56 victory in a $14,500 4&5-Year-Old trot. Frank Chick owns the Credit Winner-Iron Lass gelding trained by Kevin Lare.
In another $14,500 trot, Bill Cantrell's steady Deacons Valley, off at 8-1, with Ross Wolfenden at the controls scored a 1:54.4 triumph, his second of the year. The six-year-old Valley Victor-Deaconess Hanover horse was in the money for sixth straight time in 2016. Brew Master (Dennis) and Jailhouse Diva (Montrell Teague) finished second and third respectively.
Drivers Tim Tetrick and Tyler Davis, trainer Kevin Lare, owner Frank Chick , all had two wins.
NOVA ARTIST, MOVIE IDOL, LEYDEN TOP THURSDAY DOVER CARD
Nova Artist, Movie Idol and Leyden head a nine-horse field in Thursday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day feature race at Dover Downs. First post is 4:30 p.m.
Nova Artist, a two-time Horse of the Meet, owned by Eddie and Kathy Davis and driven by their son Allan Davis, has a win and two seconds in six starts this year. The nine-year-old approaching the $1-million mark lifetime takes on Breakway Stable’s classy Movie Idol, starting from post 9 in the second tier with Frank Milby in the bike and William Moffett’s steady homebred Leyden (Ross Wolfenden) should profit by a much better post position this week, in the $11,000 Male pace feature.
They take on Ben Stafford’s Maximum Terror, who also has an inside post this week, leaving from the rail with Ben Stafford Jr. handling the reins. Blake and Bruce Baker’s veteran Native Art and George Dennis is alongside. Other contenders are Robin and Jay Breasure’s People Are Crazy with Vic Kirby, Ed Walls’ Tug River Prince, piloted by Tony Morgan, Hide Me Away, driven by Russ Foster for Arty Foster III and Wanda May Saulsbury and the dangerous Shiretown Pitbull with Season Bier off a strong qualifying victory last week.
There is no live racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Racing resumes Monday through Thursday with post time at 4:30 p.m.
By popular demand the acclaimed Harness Buffet is now back in the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call for reservations 302-674-4600.
There is no charge for parking and admission at Dover Downs. Harness and thoroughbred simulcasts is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight.
Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for parking and admission.
Marv Bachrad