DOVER, Del.— As Bad As Thunder puts his three-race win streak on the line in his first start as a 10-year-old in the start of the 2016 season and the first Sunday racing of the current harness racing meet at Dover Downs, on Jan. 3.
A frequent visitor to the track's winner's circle during his 45-win career, the Badlands Hanover gelding has won his last two races by a nose in each, the other by 2-lengths. The Brittingham family campaigner – owned by Elizabeth, trained by Don and driven by their son Bret – has been first in five of his last seven outings. In the $15,000 Claiming Allowance pace, Brioni and Marcus Miller makes his first start after an 8-length win in which he was claimed by Arty Foster. Brioni has won three of his last four races. Howard Taylor's Major Tipper has been knocking on victory's door recently with a win, second and two thirds in his last five starts, but must leave from outside post 8.
Blake ad Bruce Baker's Native Art with Brett Miller leads the other contenders starting from post 1 after outside posts since his last win in late October at Pocono Downs. Matt Bailey's Danish Diligence and Ross Wolfenden, McElodian, driven by George Dennis for Don Reed and Jim Tessmer, Toastsmygoats with Corey Callahan and Big Bad Eli, reined by Allan Davis, dropping back to the claiming ranks, complete the lineup.
Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday are dark days.
Dover Downs offers a $5,000 Pick-4 daily.
To enjoy racing and the popular Winner's Circle Harness Buffet it, is suggest to call for a reservation, phone 302-674-4600.
Throughout the year, Harness and Thoroughbred Simulcasting opens daily at 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.
DOVER DOWNS NEWS EXTRA
After the Wednesday, Dec. 30 program, Dover Downs will next race on Sunday, Jan. 3, the first Sunday of racing for January and February. Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. with regular weekday post time at 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
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Stamdardbred Canada released its top stories of 2015. Two Harrington-based horses were first and second leading harness stories. Wiggle It Jiggleit’s sensational victory in the Little Brown Jug classic was #1. Wakazashi Hanover nipping Wiggle It Jiggleit to win the $1-million North America Cup ranked second.
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Delaware harness breeding came up big on the Wednesday (12/30) scene. The first three finishers in one of the feature trots were all sired by a Delaware stallion – former DSBF 2 and 3-year-old champion I Like My Boss ( by Don Boss Vita), Spunky Jack (Super Punk) and I’m So Striking (So Striking) were 1-2-3 in a $14,000 Winners-Over trot. Another, Go Byem (by Impel Hanover) was an easy winner of a $12,000 3,4&5-Year-Old trot.
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For the second straight Monday (12/28) Yannick Gingras racked up five wins and on both Mondays, Allan Davis had a four. Winning drives. On Wednesday (12/30), meet leader, Corey Callahan notched another five-win day.
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The longest win streak during the 2015 part of the 47th season is eight in-a-row and belongs to pacer Elliesjet N. Unbeaten in all her starts since arriving from New Zealand, she won at Harrington and now seven straight at Dover Downs. Her eighth came on Tuesday (12/29), another wire-to-wire victory, for driver Art Stafford Jr. in a $15,500 Filly and Mare pace.
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Veteran Albert Chief N becomes 15 on Jan. 1, 2016, and is retired. Each year on Jan.1, all horses observe a birthday. Under USTA rules, 15-year-olds are forced to retire, Albert Chief N ended his lengthy racing career on Dec. 30 finishing out-of-the-money. He had won his penultimate start (12/10) wire-to-wire in 1:53.3. It was his 20th win of the year and 68th lifetime victory. The gelding won $615,141 lifetime.
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Corey Callahan completed the 2015 portion, the first 30 programs, of the meet, with 73 winning drives. Callahan is on target for a seventh-straight track driver title. Second place belong to Allan Davis with 43 wins. Ross Wolfenden is third with 41. George Dennis had a big Tuesday with three wins to hold fourth place with 38 winners. Tim Tetrick, who has been away all month, is fifth in the standings, with 29 wins.
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Dylan Davis, track leading trainer the last two seasons, tops the standings with 25 winners. Jim King is second with 19. Wayne Givens has 18 in third place, and Doug Lewis, is fourth with 15 winners and Les Givens completes the Top 5 with 13.
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Ragazzo Dolce continues to dominate the trotting claiming ranks. The well-bred gelding, now a 2016 5-year-old won his sixth consecutive start on Wednesday. He won 11 races in 2015.
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Jingle Bell Rocker, was in holiday spirit all year, won his only start in December to increase his win streak to four, and 16 wins in 27 starts during 2015. The gelding puts the streak on the line on Sunday in a $10,000 Claiming Allowance.
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Winning is the name of the game, but isn’t the only thing. Doctor McSwing has won $35,527 this year and $55,161 lifetime in his two seasons of racing, but ironically, the pacer has never won a race. He has been second 10-times in 36 starts in 2015 with four seconds in 25 race, the previous year. Now 0 for 61 career starts, Doctor McSwing has made money for his owners, Allan Pullman, Barry Glickstein and Eddie Davis, in each season.
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HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016
MARV BACHRAD