Harness racing driver Victor Kirby was at it again, driving five winners while for the second straight week and third time in four starts, Empress Deo rallied to score a come-from-behind victory in the Tuesday, Dec. 13th $20,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap at Dover Downs.
While Elliesjet N (Jonathan Roberts) and Inittowinafortune (Corey Callahan) battled for the early lead and Purrfect Bags (Vic Kirby) and Scandalicious (Tim Tetrick) joined the action on the backstretch, Allan Davis waited until the top of stretch before unleashing Empress Deo and the five-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Kittle Miss K streaked to the finish line for a 1:51.4 triumph. Scandalicious finished second in front of Purrfect Bags.
Legacy Racing owns the six-time winner this year who now has won $159,633. It was the second win of the day for driver Davis and trainer Wayne Givens.
A race earlier, Vic Kirby picked up his fourth win of five on the card directing Rich Pollucci's Mischief Maker N home in 1:52.2. Jim King conditions the Jereme's Jet-Invisage mare, now a seven-time winner this year while banking $51,381. Sweet Bobbie was runner-up. Shine N Shimmer (George Dennis) was third.
Not only did Vic Kirby drive five winners during the program, he also was a two-time winning owner. Corey Callahan and Yannick Gingras also had two driving wins while trainer Wayne Givens also had a double.
IL MAGO TAKES ON THREE OTHER WINNERS LAST TIME OUT
Four horses including last week’s $20,000 Open/Handicap trot winner Il Mago, collide in the Wednesday, Dec. 14 feature race on a strong trotting dominated card at Dover Downs.
Theresademoninme, owned by Mike Casalino and trainer Dylan Davis has won his last two in a row and three of his last four races with Jonathan Roberts driving, while razor-sharp trainer Ed Gannon Jr. with Yannick Gingras in the bike and Winbak Charles M and B Yoyo, owned by Bill Lambos and Dionisios Liberatos, with Corey Callahan, each won their previous starts and will step up to meet CC Racing’s Il Mago handled by Tim Tetrick.
Glenferrrie Dreamer with Pat Berry is also racing at the top of his game with consecutive seconds after two wins in-a-row for J Craparotta &P Berry Racing. The strong field includes Brian Clark and Adams Racing’s Tag Up And Go with Bret Brittingham from the rail, Richard Pollucci’s Frost Free Hanover driven by Ross Wolfenden, Frank Chick;s Awsome Valley and George Dennis and Boffin driven by Tony Morgan for ACI Stuten AB, Kjell Johansson and trainer Anette Lorentzon.
The nine-horse $15,500 Winners-Over trot for 3,4 and 5-Year-Olds is another wide-open affair. Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing’s Go Byem (Jim Morand) returned to winning form last week scoring an impressive 1:54 win. Chris Giaccio and trainer-driver Vic Kirby’s Steel Reserve was a game second. Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms’ Celebrity Pegasus (Art Stafford Jr.) drops down from the Open where he finished third. Bluebird Reverend (Montrell Teague), a champion Indiana bred, drew the rail for Dennis, Johannsen, Case and trainer Bob Reeser in the hard-hitting lineup. .
This Wednesday and Thursday, post time is 4:30 p.m. Dover Downs is dark on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays plus all next week, as Dover Downs horsemen observe their usual annual Holiday Break Week through Christmas day. Live racing resumes on Monday, Dec. 26 on a normal schedule.
Dover Downs. Simulcasting of top harness and thoroughbred racing in the Dover Downs Sports Book, daily from 12 Noon to 12 Midnight.
Marv Bachrad