DOVER, Del.— Though stabled a short distance from the track, JL Cruze made his second 2016 start and first local appearance and responded with an easy 1:53.2 victory in the $36,000 Open Preferred trot at Dover Downs Wednesday.
The program also featured two $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 2nd leg 3-year-old male trot divisions that led off the program with Triple Bottom Line and Epic Smash scoring impressive victories.
Hall of Fame driver John Campbell left with JL Cruze and tucked in fifth after the start. Campbell began his frontward movement heading to the half mile and steady continued to move.
The Crazed-Topcat Hall bay gelding finally took over after the three quarters on the way to his second triumph of the year for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, of Denton, Md., and Philadelphia area residents, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta.
Emerging from a pack of trotters bidding for second was Spunky Jack with Roger Plante, who has five seconds this year and 15 over the last two seasons. Somebody AS teamed with Tim Tetrick, finished third in front of early leader Gural Hanover, driven by Andrew McCarthy, third.
JL Cruze now has 23 career wins and earnings of $690,553 lifetime.
In the stronger of two $20,000 divisions, Epic Smash rolled to his second DSBF 2nd leg trot victory holding off a determined bid from Cicada's Song in a 1:56.4 mile.
Pat Berry, who won consecutive races, took Epic Smash right to the front as he did last week and was never headed in the lifetime best clocking of her career.Cicada's Song was relentless chasing the winner home. JCraparotta&PBerry Racing, own the Political Briefing-Giant Smash filly who now has five lifetime wins and purses of $115,208.Chestnut Chic (George Dennis) came on to finish third.
The outside post didn't deter Triple Bottom Line and Jeff Fout in the other $20,000 DSBF section. The CR Commando-Current Yield bay stormed away to get the early lead and cut out all the 2:00.1 winning fractions.
Miss Baltimore (Tony Morgan) who stalked the winner from the start but had to hold on for second. Devlin (Carlo Poliseno) was the third-place money winner. Winbak Farm bred and owns Triple Bottom Line who won for the first time this year and third time in her 10 race career. She has banked $88,200 in purses.
Colt pacers battle Thursday in DSBF divisions
Three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-Year-Old Male Paces complete the two-weeks of preliminaries, Thursday, April 7 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p m.
John’s Dream, winner of last November’s DSBF $100,000 Two-Year-Old Final, and a 1:53.2 winner last week, drew the rail and will again be driven by Tim Tetrick from the rail in the second $20,000 prelim. Chuck Perry is owner-trainer of the ridgling that completed his two-year-old season with five consecutive wins.
Pam Wagner’s Canthelpbutwin and Allan Davis starts alongside. Cut The Beach, owned by Rubin, Johnson Thomson and Henry Faragalli III, has two win under his belt but must start from the outside in the six-horse field. Mike and Linda English’s Double Miles (Jim Morand) was a third place finisher.
In another $20,000 DSBF Male Pace, Trainer-driver John MacKinnon’s JW Renegade spent much of last start on the outside. Garnet O’Marrow’s homebred Seboomook Dreamer and Allan Davis completes the lineup.
The opening $20,000 DSBF division Dorothy and Chris Conner’s Hail To The Master, driven by Art Stafford Jr., won five-times last season and began this year with a 1:52.4 wire-to-wire win. Winbak Farm’s All Artist with Jeff Fout, has two straight second-place finishers. Cavalli Pazzi Stable’s Casino Bags Anso, a strong second a week ago, leaves from the rail with Vince Copeland. Carter Racing’s Rusty Carter and George Dennis.
Carter Racing Stable’s Rusty Carter, piloted by Corey Callahan, the 2015 Harrington $100,000 champion at Harrington, was third in his seasonal debut. Rich Lombardo and Howard Taylor’s Stellar City will be driven by Ross Wolfenden and Lee Louthan’s homebred Spinstigator and Allan Davis leave from post 2.
The third $20,000 DSBF prelim is a wide open affair led by Don Marine’s Power To Perform (Tony Morgan) who just missed by a neck to finish second last start. Henry Faragalli III, Bay Pond and Nanticoke Racing’s Next Success (Jim Morand) has been racing well. Paul and Lorie Davis and Pres Moore’s Gimme The Pacifics (Callahan) should be a factor front the rail while Willard Hall and Brian Wright’s Sizz Matty (Teague) must overcome the outside.
The other starters are Shawn Hanley’s homebred Richie The Flanka with Ross Wolfenden and Serendipity Stable’s Door Prize (Sean Bier).
by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs