DOVER, Del.— A 10-year-old harness racing veteran Piece Of The Rock notched his second win of 2017 scoring a 1:51.1 victory in the Monday, March 3 feature at Dover Downs. Four drivers collected doubles.
On the heels of a 1:50.3 triumph in his last start L&J Racing's veteran pacer won for the 33rd time in his career romping to a 1:51.1 decision raising his lifetime earnings to $706,553 with Tony Morgan guiding the win. Josh Green conditions the Rocknroll Hanover-Paula's Promise gelding. Western Young Gun (Jonathan Roberts) came down the passing lane to edge Rock On Precious (Russ Foster) for second money. Morgan raked up his second win of the day piloting owner-trainer Ron Davis' Lee Is A Star home. The Matt's Scooter-Bags Is A Artist seven-year-old recorded his 15th lifetime win good for $116,385 earnings.
Sean Bier was the first of two drivers to hang up a double. He drove Major Starlight, an Amada Payson-trained Major In Art-Starlight Justice gelding owned by Dante Scatalini and Ben Gordon, to a 1:52 triumph. Bier came right back to steer New Evidence home in 1:56 in the next race for owners, trainer Jim McGuire, Jeff and John O'Donnell. The victory was the first of the year and second all-time for the Western Terror-Bouncing Hanover gelding.
Art Stafford Jr. also made the winner's circle twice. First with Ron Davis' Machet Time, a daughter of Mach Three-Rocket Time, in 1:53.4. Stafford later gave A Farmboys Success his first lifetime victory carving out a 1:55 win. Stafford also owns and trains the American Ideal-Far Ahead Hanover sophomore gelding.
Corey Callahan was responsible for two wins also, He drove Breakaway Racing's Nantucket Red, a Real Artist-Race Me Valerie gelding, for his father trainer Nick Callahan to a lifetime first win in 1:54.1. CTC Stable's West Lucky Aria came back in the stretch for Callahan to post a 1:55.3 success with a Camluck-Terror Of The West three-year-old filly.
Trainer Joe Columbo and driver George Dennis collaborated for consecutive victories. Both winners are owned by George & Tina Dennis. They are partnered with The Wiz Kids Stable on I'm Won Run Wiser a 1:53 winner by Headmaster-La Gloria Cubana, an eight-year-old mare. Allstar Preview was the other Dennis winner. He is an altered son of Four Starzzz Shark-Gallery Hop gelding.
STAKES WINNER GURAL HANOVER NEW IN $20,000 FEATURE TROT
Gural Hanover, an almost $800,000 winner is a new face in this week’s top trot, the $20,000 Open meeting former Hambletonian winner Market Share and Tough Mac in this week’s feature event on Wednesday, March 8 at Dover Downs. A strong supporting card is also on the trotting dominated program. Post Time is 4:30 p.m.
Weaver Bruscemi, Burke Racing, Little E and Panhellenic stables are owners of Gural Hanover, a winner of $784,974 in his career who makes his initial start of his six-year-old season with Yannick Gingras in the bike. Fresh from a convincing win last Wednesday, Market Share, winner of the 2012 Hambletonian, has won two of his last five outing including a trio of second-place finishes with Tim Tetrick at the controls. Tough Mac, a local standout for the past three seasons racing for Mike Casalino has won three of his six starts this season and will be driven by Corey Callahan.
Rich Pollucci’s Frost Free Hanover with Vic Kirby piloting, has been a meet-long standout with three wins and a third in 2017. Jonathan Roberts drives CC Racing’s Il Mago while Leigh Raymer and John Whitby’s Buddy Hally and Montrell Teague and I’m So Striking handled by Eddie Dennis for Lois and Earl Walters and E&K Stable, from the rail complete the hard-hitting field.
A $15,000 4&5-Year-Old Winners-Over trot heads the undercard. Dennis, Johannsen, Holly Case and trainer Bob Reeser’s, Bluebird Reverend (Teague), a 1:54 winner last week, and Clebrity Pegasus (Art Stafford Jr.), racing for Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms, leave from the outside posts in an eight horse field.
Monday through Thursday live racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are ‘dark days’ at the track. Fine food is available while watching the races at the acclaimed Winner's Circle Restaurant Buffet. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad