DOVER, Del. — Osceola Gold stepped up a class and won his third in-a-row taking the $15,000 Claiming pace on Sunday, March 15 at Dover Downs. It was one of two wins for harness racing driver Tony Morgan who now has 14,987 career winning drives.
After racing for a $10,000 tag all meet long, Osceola Gold won back-to-back and took on the $15,000 claimers successfully. Tony Morgan moved the 10-year-old altered son of Sharky Spur – Hook And Ladder up on the outside in front of the grandstand. Osceola Gold rushed into the lead heading to the three quarters and then opened up a lead on the way to 1:53.4 victory. Owned and trained by Jeanmarie Kurowski, the win was the gelding's third of the year with two seconds and two thirds in seven outings this campaign and 38th in his career lifting lifetime earnings to $243,577. Sir Globalop Z Tam (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up. Cash Cab (Allan Davis) finished third.
JJ Nitro got up for Eddie Davis Jr. nearing the finish line to score a 1:55.3 triumph in the co-feature $11,400 Delaware Male 3,4&5-Year-Old pace. Lloyd Hickman owns the N Xample-Farline Hanover gelding trained by Brenda Bramble, who registered his first win of 2015. Free Love (Frank Tsipouras) was second in front of Dragon Seelster (Morgan).
In a program sprinkled by big payoff longshots, 77-year-old veteran trainer-driver Wayde Marsh guiding 59-1 Sombodydonsombody moved up after the half and continued forward to finally catch leader Shifting Seasons (Vince Copeland) in the final stride to score a victory by a head in 1:58.4. For the four-year-old son of Veeza-Jaguar Lady, it was his first lifetime win in 13 lifetime starts for Cedar Crest Farms.
Earlier Bret Brittingham drove 49-1 shot My Girl Gal to a 1:57.1 victory in a Delaware Mares pace for owner May Ann Larrimore.
Morgan and Jeanne McInnis' Cams Art, a winner in his previous start, drew post 8 at 11-1 odds and rolled to a 1:54.2 win with Eddie Davis Jr. in the bike in a Delaware Male pace.
Allan Davis led the win category with three successes including both ends of the daily double. Tony Morgan notched two wins to move with only 13 more to become the fifth driver in the world to reach $15,000 wins. Eddie Davis Jr. also won two races.
SPIN VISION SEEKS SIXTH STRAIGHT MONDAY IN FEMALE FEATURE
Spin Vision, one of the few three-year-olds racing and winning, seeks her sixth straight victory in a perfect 2015 season on Monday in the $15,500 Mares Winners-Over pace, March 16 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
Corey Callahan will be in the bike behind Spin Vision for breeder, owner-trainer Leigh Louthan’s Spin Vision. She has started and won in each of the five inside post positions. From post 4, she will face Chris White’s Fashion Showdown and George Dennis, a winner last week, and two of her last three and three wins in her last five outings.
Front-pacing Megan Deering’s Velocity Sonja, piloted by Allan Davis, a four-time winner this year, leads the opposition along with Z Tam Stable’s Yanklet Hanover, a fast-closing four-year-old driven by Tony Morgan. Carter Racing and Bobby Myers’ Get Real Rusty and Eddie Davis Jr., leaves from post 9 in the second tier. Bill Sartin and Mark Salerno’s Hidden Land drew the rail with Roger Plante with Lindysbathinbeauty and Daryl Bier burdened by post 8. The other contenders are Legacy Racing’s Hit By Lightning with Vic Kirby while Jonathan Roberts will drive Brit Evans and Foulk Stables’ Seawind Ginger.
On a strong supporting card, Foulk stables’ Valerya (Roberts), a strong winner last week, takes on Jeremes Sweetheart (Kirby) owned by Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaqauinta, and Erika Paradee’s Lady’s Delight (Eddie Davis Jr.), both second last time, in a strong field of eight in a $14,000 Mares Winners-Over pace.
Monday through Thursday starting time is 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Now on Thursdays, only, there is a two-for-one entre special the Winner's Circle Restaurant. Each race day, reservations are suggested for those choosing to dine while watching live racing. Call 302-674-4600.
There is no charge for parking or for admission at Dover Downs. Simulcasting of leading harness and thoroughbred racing from 12 Noon to 12 Midnight in the Dover Downs Racing and Sports Book.
Marv Bachrad