DOVER, Del. — Springforth, a strong second last week, was overlooked by the harness racing fans at 15-1 in the $20,000 Mares Open Handicap at Dover Downs, on a cold Tuesday Jan. 18.
George Dennis sent Springforth four-wide on the final turn and then hustled up to engage the only four-year-old in the field, leader Cheyenne Robin and Tony Morgan, deep in the stretch before reaching the finish line first by a nose in 1:52.2. Jeff Clark owns and trains the Artiscape-Spring Morning six-year-old who won for the first time this meet after two wins at Rosecroft recently. The win was her 17th lifetime bringing her earnings to $331,554.
The race before, Ross Wolfenden put the Bob Winkelman owned-and-trained, Paradise Lost, into the lead and took no prisoners en route to a 1:53.2 decision in a $12,500 Fillies and Mares pace. The veteran Artsplace-Loving Ideal mare has now won $339,843 after recording her 30th career victory. $1.4 million-winner Handsoffmycookie (Tony Morgan) finished second in front of Jeremes Sweetheart (Jim Morand).
The longest win streak by a pacer at the track -6, ended in the $13,500 4&5-Year-Old Mares pace when Nice Trip (Wolfenden), after six-straight wins, finished out-of-the-money. The race was won by Electric Z Tam, owned by Legacy Racing and trained by Wayne Givens. Michelle Rocks (Tim Tetrick) was runner-up. Caviart Cari Ann (Vic Kirby) was the show horse. Electric Z Tam, a daughter of Electric Yankee-Gens Z Tam, chalked up her third win this meet and fourth in her last six.
Allan Davis notched his second of three wins steering Rich Lombardo, the Atleys and JJM Stable's Caviart Scarlet to a 1:54.1 score in a $12,000 race for female pacers. It was the Sportswriter-Caviart Sydney four-year-old's second straight win and fourth in her previous six outings.
Allan Davis drove three winners while Ross Wolfenden, George Dennis, Tim Tetrick and Jonathan Roberts along with trainers Dylan Davis and Kevin Lare had two wins.
I LIKE MY BOSS, TOUGH MAC MEET AGAIN IN $20,000 OPEN TROT
A hard-hitting group of fast trotters meet in the $20,000 Open trot heading a strong program on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Dover Downs.. First post is 4:30 p.m.
In the feature, trainer Bob Shahan, Jim and Amanda Parson’s homebred Like My Boss, a top Delaware-bred trotter, driven by George Dennis, saw his four-race winning streak end last week and leaves from outside post 8. To his right is Mike Casalino’s talented Tough Mac, with Tim Tetrick driving. Meanwhile RBH Venture’s War Cry Hall finally gets an inside post starting from the rail with Ross Wolfenden.
Trainer Leigh Raymer, S.M. Moss and the Solomon’s Tirade Hanover with Brett Miller at the controls finished third last Wednesday Ted Gewertz’s Panamanian Hanover, reined by Tony Morgan, has won two of his last four starts. Ed Gannon’s Winbak Charles M, handled by Jonathan Roberts, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquina’s Razor Ramone with Allan Davis and Providence West’s improving Odessa, piloted by Justin Vincent complete the opposition.
The secondary feature is a $15,000 4&5-Year-Old trot, in a wide-open field of seven; Jim Moore’s Royal Becca J (Jack Parker) is the lone winner last week after an impressive victory after racing outside for most of a 1:56.1 mile. After leading for most of his race, Bob Shahan’s Machuca (A.Davis) had to settle for second with Gary Simpson and Eric Good’s Adrenalin Junkie (Jim Morand) third,
The other contenders are Max Walton’s Someway Same Hall (Art Stafford Jr.), Carol Atkinson and Serendipity Stable’s Made To Trot. Barbary Kinsey’s Myclaimtovictory (Kim Vincent) and Al Moors’ Royal Status (Vince Copeland).
During January and February, Dover Downs races five days a week. Monday through Thursday beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday’s post time is 5:30 p.m. No Live racing on Friday and Saturday.
Marv Bachrad