DOVER, DE – Slick Tony eeked out a sharp win in the Open Pace at Dover Downs on Thursday night.
Due to snow, harness racing at Dover Downs had been canceled consecutive weeks.Ā Trainer George Leager raced Slick Tony 4 days ago at Rosecroft Raceway intending to give him a race conditioning edge. The other horses in the field were off three or four weeks due to the weather cancellations.
It proved the correct choice.
Slick Tony and driver Victor Kirby blasted away from the gate for early race position.Ā Mission was accomplished.
Dexter Dunn and Tiger Thompson N settled in third, then rushed up to take the lead away from Slick Tony at the quarter.Ā Tiger Thompson NĀ passed the quarter in 27 flat.Ā The half was reached in 55.3.
Tyga Hanover and Yannick Gingras pulled the right lines from fourth and marched down the backstretch 1st over in attack mode. Itsrockandroll AĀ shadowedĀ 2nd over on the rim.
Tiger Thompson N maintained the lead to the three quarters in 1:23 flat,Ā pacing a 27.2 quarter.
At the top of the stretch, Kirby was able to tiptoe down along the rail from the pocket, and won by three quarters of a length in 1:51.Ā He paid $4.20 to win as the race favorite.
Slick Tony (No Spin Zone) is owned and trained by George Leager.Ā
Tyga Hanover raced a roughed up trip and finished 2nd for trainer Andrew Harris.Ā Ā Itsrockandroll A benefitted from the 2nd over trip and finished third for trainer Dylan Davis.Ā Corey Callahan drove.
Racing resumes at Dover Downs on Monday.Ā Post Time is 4:30 pm.
For full race results, click here.