Newcomer Somebody AS, the race favorite, was never challenged en route to a 1:54.2 victory in the $20,000 Open/ Handicap trot on a longshot filled Wednesday, Febrary 24th harness racing card at Dover Downs. George Dennis drives three winners.
Corey Callahan left quickly from the middle of an eight horse field to get the lead and never was tested on the way to his second win in four starts this year cruising to his 23rd lifetime success banking $465,583in purses. The seven-year-old Striking Sahbra-Noblesse AS gelding trained by Anette Lorentzon was all alone at the wire for owners Kjell Johansson and breeder ACI Stuteri AB. 18-1 Five Towns (Jonathan Roberts) came into the race with two wins in a row but had to settle for second. Si Gun Hall (George Dennis) in his first start of the year finished third. Ware Cry Hall (Vic Kirby), a winner of the last two Opens, was troubled by starting on the outside, but closed to finish fourth.
In the $15,500 4&5-Year-Old sub-feature trot, in mid-stretch, Inner Peace (Pat Berry) appeared on the way to victory when the gelding broke stride. Eskimo Joe , a 9-1 shot, then came on to record his first win of 2016 closing fast to nip Royal Becca J (Jack Parker Jr.) at the wire in 1:56.2. Joe Skowyra conditions Eskimo Joe, an altered son of Credit Winner-New Hampshire Girl, for Barbara Boese Trust. Marzipan (Dennis) came storming on the outside to take third.
In other trots, Lou Man (Kirby), owned by John McGill and Brian Carsey was a winner in 1:55.2, in one $12,000 contest while Angela Coombs' 12-1 Phantom Rusty (Roberts) won a second in 1:57; Robbins Nest Farm's Keystone Orion (Roberts) won at 12-1 to win a $9,500 event. Rosemary Smutz' Man Of Muscle (Berry) closed strongly at 18-1 to win a $9,000 trot. Jay Baxter's Bella's Punkett (Wolfenden) was a 1:57 winner at 6-1. Eddie Davis' 30-1 Eurocan (Allan Davis) got up in 1:57 to win a $7,500 trot and Abrcadabra Hanover (Davis), off at 9-1, nipped favorite Winbak Red (Callahan) at the wire in 1:57.4 to win a Delaware $5,000-$7,500 Claiming Handicap trot.
George Dennis had a driving triple two with horses trained by Kevin Lare for Frank Chick; Vic Kirby had a double.
RACE ME VILLA ONE AND ALL GOLD THURSDAY FEATURE FAVORITES
Race Me Villa and All Gold, both winners in their previous starts are the favorites in the Thursday, Feb. 25 twin-features at Dover Downs. First post is 4:30 p.m.
Montrell Teague drove Race Me Villa to a wire-to-wire 1:52.1 victory last week for trainer Kevin Switzer and owners Kathleen Mofield, John Dickens and KDK Standardbreds. Arty Foster’s Rockin Rambaran is in top form after consecutive seconds. Feel Like A Fool heads the opposition. Owned by Kovach Stables, Vic Kirby will drive the $1.1-million winner from the rail after a big trip last time from post 8 finishing fourth beaten only three-quarters of a length. Driver Art Stafford and brother Andrew Stafford’s Framed Art is another classy veteran dropping down.
The rest of the competitive field includes PT Stables Summer Camp with Jonathan Roberts, Allstar Preview trained by driver George Dennis racing for George and Tina Dennis, Rockin The House, newly acquired by Howard and Judy Taylor and Dandy Farms with Corey Callahan and GRJ Partners’ Disarrei with Tony Morgan from post 8.
In the other co-feature, All Gold (Ross Wolfenden), fresh from two wins-in-a-row takes on the sharp Cambassador (Morgan), owned by Bill Lutz, LeBlanc Racing and Coun0t De Money Stable and Ask W Stables and the Dennis’ homebred Roddy’s Hot Again (Dennis), also winners last time out.
There is no live racing on Friday and Saturday.
This is next-to-last Sunday of racing this season. Post time is resumes at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; post time is 4:30 p.m.
By popular demand the Winner’s Circle 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. Reservations are suggested for those planning to stay at Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad