DOVER, Del.—-Harness racing driver Victor Kirby began a five-win night steering Love is Blind to a 2:00.2 victory, one of three winners he drove for owner-trainer Leigh Raymer. Later, Glenferrie Dreamer got only one call, the last one, when Pat Berry closed with a rush to the winner's circle for his third victory in his last four starts in the $20,000Open Handicap on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Dover Downs.
Tough Mac, in his first start after winning three qualifiers, Led through most of the mile before a convoy of rivals came on strongly approaching the finish line. Pat Berry, among them, driving Glenferrie Dreamer, a gelding trained by Traci Berry for owners J Craparotta & P Berry Racing,
Montrell Teague moved Bluebird Reverend out of fifth in the stretch and the Indiana-bred hard-hitting gelding powered past a foursome of fast-finishing trotters to score a 1:55.2 triumh in a $15,500 Winners-Over trot. Starting from post 9 in the second tier the Swan For All-Little Revenue four-year-old won for the fifth time this season extending his seasonal earnings to $87,580 and $392,360 lifetime. Steel Reserve (Kirby) finished second with Tymal Signature (Berry) the show horse.
Vic Kirby posted his fourth winning drive guiding War Cry Hall to his sixth 2016 victory for RBH Ventures in a $12,000 trot. Jim King conditions the Cash Hall-Winners Only gelding who now has won $82,851 this season. A 32-race career winner. The seven-year-old has banked $555,551 lifetime. Winbak Vhsltrd M (Yanick Gingras) was runner-up. Enrico AS (Jonathan Roberts) was next.
Of Kirby's five wins, three came driving for owner-trainer Leigh Reymer.
FOUR MATRON SOPH FINALS, FOUR DSBF 2ND LEG PRELIMS THURSDAY
Four rich Matron Stakes for three-year-olds and four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $20,000 freshmen 2nd leg paces highlight a giant Thursday, Nov. 10 program. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
In the $162,200 soph pace, Tom Hill’s Breeders Crown champion Racing Hill and Brett Miller, already a winner of $1.58-million winner this year starts from post 7 in a field of eight. The Tony Alagna-trained colt has seven wins and been in-the-money in 14 of 15 races this season. His formidable rivals include Peter Blood and Rick Berks’ Boston Red Rocks teamed with Tim Tetrick. Lyons Snyder, favorite in the Breeders Crown, led after the opening quarter but finished out-of-the-money, will be driven by David Miller for owners Jeff Snyder and Geoff Lyons.
Stolen Glimpse a winner of his last start in October taking the Tattersalls Stake in 1:49.2 at The Red Mile is one of four Ron Burke Stable contenders.
Diamond Creek Racing’s $1-million winner Pure Country, handled by Brett Miller for trainer Jimmy Takter is the one to beat in the $148,400 Matron Filly Stake. Already a nine-time winner this season and 16 times in 20 races this campaign, she faces L A Delight with John Campbell, second in the Breeders Crown but starting from outside post 8 this time for Robert McIntosh, CSX stables and Al McIntosh Holdings. Newborn Sassy and Tim Tetrick is enjoying an excellent season with seven wins and 14 of 19 in the first three for JoAnn Looney-King and CC Racing.
The richest of the Matron foursome is the $178,650 colt and gelding trot. Lagerfeld, owned by Takter, Liverman and the Fieldings, fourth in the Breeders Crown after a tough trip, is in the hands of David Miller. Yannick Gingras drives Dayson for Smith, Our Hrs Cents, J& Silva stables and Burke Racing. The sharp Sutton trained by Julie Miller for owners Jason & Doug Allen and Andy Miller Stables and local contestant Iron Mine Branch’s Iron Mine Bucky trained by Greg Haverstick and driver George Dennis drew the outside post positions.
Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld’s homebred All The Time with Yannick Gingras has earned the most from the eight starters in the $149,000 Matron Filly Trot. She has won $894,116 in her two seasons. The hard-hitting Southwind Hope and Andy Miller leaves from the rail for Larry Dumain, Little E and Andy Miller Stable. Flowers N Song, bred and owned by Bob Key, has won 11 races already and nearly a half-million in purses.
Henry The Dragon looks for his fifth consecutive victory piloted by Montrell Teague for owner George Teague starts the card meeting Tina and Brian Clark’s Automatic Dragon (Tim Tetrick) from the rail and Dorothy Hock and Katherine Ricci’s Hallie’s Comet (Ross Wolfenden) in the first $20,000 DSBF prelim.
In the second race, Dan Keeler’s James Isaac (Tony Morgan) takes on a pair of Teague owned contenders Stay In your Place and Ain’t It Fun both conditioned by Clyde Francis.
Later on the card, another George Teague bred Daylen (Montrell Teague) drew the rail in the third $20,000 division. Apple Heir (Jason Green) a 1:56.3 wire-to-wire winner last week starts from post 7 for Willard Hall and trainer Brian Wright.
In the fourth $20,000 DSBF prelim, Teague and Teague Partnership’s Rat Tail (M.Teague) meets Only Money and trainer Jason Skinner’s Bags To Riches (Tetrick) and KDK Standardbreds’ Almost Cut My Hair (Kevin Switzer Jr.) in a wide-open event.
Friday and Saturday are dark days at Dover Downs. There is No live racing this Sunday. Sunday racing is scheduled for Nov. 20th at 5:30 p.m. Sundays. Weekday racing, Monday through Thursday, racing begins at 4:30 p.m.
Watch races and enjoy good food in Dover Downs Winner’s Circle Buffet daily. Call 302-674-4600 for reservations.
Harness and Thoroughbred Simulcasting daily 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs Race and Sports Book in the Colonnade. There is no charge for parking or admission at Dover Downs.
Marv Bachrad