Bushwacker, the richest harness racing horse of 2016 won the $30,000 Preferred Handicap for the second straight week at Dover Downs on Monday, Feb. 8.
After Mustang Art, with Sean Bier, took the feature pacers to the quarter in :25.4, Tim Tetrick pulled Bushwacker to the outside in front of the grandstand to take lead at the half in :54.3. Bushwacker was in command through a 1:22.1 three quarters and had enough to reach the finish line in 1:50.4 with Mustang Art, second. Doctor Butch came on in the lane for Tony Morgan to finish third. The five-year-old altered son of Rocknroll Hanover-Dolphins Can Talk, conditioned by Chris Ryder, won for the fifth time in 2016 and sixth in his last eight, for Henderson Farms. It was his 17th career win with a $426,212 lifetime bankroll. Bushwacker has now won $71,100 already in 2016.
Frank Chick's Warp Factor Three, trained by Kevin Lare, made good use of starting from post 1 with Yannick Gingras scoring a 1:52 victory in a $15,500 4&*5-Year-Old Male pace. Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) was second in front of Apollo Seelster (Roberts).
Russ Foster, the youngest driver in the race at 26, drove Sentencing Memo, the youngest horse in the event, a three-year-old, to a fast closing triumph in a $14,000 pace for young male horses. Suchasenceofhumor (Jim Morand) was runner-up with Roll Big (Corey Callahan), the favorite, third. Veteran Arty Foster, the driver's grandfather, owns and trains the Western Terror-Lady Annie gelding, who won for the fourth time in five outings and sixth time in seven starts.
In a $14,000 Male Winners-Over pace, Owner Foulk Stable won for the first time since claiming Sparky Mark for $50,000 in December, as Jonathan Roberts, who had a driving triple, piloted the nine-year-old son of Astreos-Luckbealadytonite to a 1:51.2 triumph. It was one of two training wins for meet leader Dylan Davis. Just A Jolt (Tetrick), the race favorite, finished strongly for second with Don't Ya Know (Vic Kirby) the show horse.
Rocknroll Jewell gave Gingras a double winning for the sixth consecutive time notching a 1:51.2 conquest in a $12,000 Male pace. Tom Lazzaro owns the Rocknroll Hanover-Michelle's Jewell gelding trained by Dylan Davis. Gallic Beach (Callahan) went a big trip and finished second. Believe This Bob (Ross Wolfenden) was a close third.
In a day of big prices, 21-1 Millennium Wheel was the biggest, scoring a 1:52 decision in a $20,000 Male Claiming Allowance. Trainer Jason Lynch shares ownership win Jim Jacobs in the Bettor's Delight-London Eye gelding. Beavercreek Artist (Allan Davis) and Brioni (Tony Morgan), whose seven-race win streak came to an end, were second and third respectively.
Jonathan Roberts with three wins, Montrell Teague, Allan Davis, Yannick Gingras and trainer Dylan Davis had two wins each.
SPRINGFORTH, SHINE N SHIMMER HEAD $20,000 MARES OPEN TUESDAY
Springforth, a just miss second in his last two starts meets regulars Shin N Shimmer and Fashion Showdown in the $20,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
Owner-trainer Jeff Clark’s Springforth, piloted by George Dennis, has been a close-up second in three 0f his last three outings, with a win in between, takes on Howard Taylor’s hard-hitting Shine N Shimmer teamed with Corey Callahan and Chris White’s Fashion Showdown, driven by Ross Wolfenden, a two-time Open winner, who has a major change of post positions this week moving from post-8 to number-3 this week.
Jerseylicious leaves from the rail with Allan Davis driving for Pam Curran, Niel Gargiulo and Legacy Racing while Tony Morgan will drive JFE Enterprise’s Scandalicious from the outside in the seven-distaff field. John McGill’s No Respect with Tim Tetrick in the bike, and Lou Catana and trainer Vince Bradley’s sharp Matinee Dragon with Jonathan Roberts complete the highly competitive lineup.
A $15,000 Mares Winners-Over pace heads the undercard. Mildred’s Button (Montrell Teague) closed strongly to win last week’s edition. Lorie and Paul Davis’ Lady Beth (Tetrick) was a head back in second for the second straight start. Playncardswitroddy (Dennis), owned by George&Tina Dennis and Ask W stables, was used on the backstretch and was only two-lengths off at the wire. Naty (Jonathan Roberts) step up a notch for trainer Brian Malone and Carrie Stackowitz after an impressive win last week.
Marv Bachrad