DOVER, Del— The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) opens it's harness racing three-year-old stakes program with two $20,000 three-year-old filly trots at Dover Downs on Monday, (March 12). Post time is 4:30 p.m.
Serendipity Stables' homebred Star Sapphire, winner of both the Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway $100,000 finals at two, drew post 1 in the first of two $20,000 Filly legs. Russell Foster will drive the Tui Stone conditioned sophomore. Her toughest rival in 2017, Déjà vu Blue will have the services of Tim Tetrick leaving from post 5 in the opening race on the card. Dylan Davis trains and co-owns the black filly with Howard Taylor, Tom Lazzaro and Mike Casalino Jr. Déjà vu Blue was runner-up at Harrington and third in the Dover freshman finales.
The other filly contenders are Cliff Green's Barn Yard Judy with Jason Green driving; Uptown Spunk guided by Roger Plante Jr. for Callam and LeBlanc racings; Press Pass bred by Stacy Stafford, co-owned with Wyatt Starkey and driven by Art Stafford Jr. and Who Winna Now has Mike Cole driving for trainer Bob Shahan who owns the filly with Jimmy and A.M. Parsons.
Vandalous (Corey Callahan), a four-time winner at two, heads the second $20,000 distaff section. Chambers Racing, Cinbrew Enterprise, Fuquay and BCJM Inc. own the Nick Callahan trained brown filly. Alpine Chic has been the most active prepping for the DSBF stakes racing three times in February for trainer Les Givens and driver Allan Davis who is also a part owner with Delbert Cain, and Nanticoke Racing. Bobby Glassmeyer's Bosston Ruth drew the rail with Jonathan Roberts in the bike. Charlie Groce II's Miss U Jeannie will be handled by owner-trainer Eddie Dennis. Stop The Jade Farm's AB's Royal Punkin, trained by Stacy Chiodo and piloted by Pat Berry and Earlyshirley Three completes the lineup with Ross Wolfenden in the bike for trainer Daryl Glazer who owns the three-year-old with Chris Yochim.
This is the first of two $20,000 legs with the second leg set for next Monday. The top eight point-getters in each of the four DSBF soph divisions return for $100,000 finals on meet closing day Thursday (3/29).
Dover Downs now offers a 50-cent Pick 5 wager which starts with the 2nd race through the 6th. There is also a late daily double on the 12th and 13th races.
Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for general parking and admission at Dover Downs. Reservations are suggested for the acclaimed Winner's Circle Buffet Restaurant and those planning a stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
DOVER DOWNS EXTRA – # 15, 3/9/18
The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) opens its 3-year-old trotting and pacing stakes program starting on Monday (3/12) with $20,000 preliminary legs scheduled through the first week with the 2nd and final legs the following week.—On Monday, trotting fillies are featured with colt and gelding trotters, Tuesday. Wednesday is filly pacer day with male pacers complete the first week of $20,000 prelims on Thursday.—The top eight-point getters in each of the four sophomore divisions return on March 29 for $100,000 championship finals
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Horses based in Delaware dominate the money makers in the sport in early 2018. While NF Happenstance, in the Jack Parker Jr. Stable in Harrington leads North American harness racing with $78,500 in purses won this year, five other who raced last week at Dover Downs are among the sport’s top 10. Another trotter, Dylan Davis-traineee Thereademoninme is fourth in the standings with $57,800. Burke Brigade’s pacing mare Bettorhaveanother is #7 with $55,375, Super Imposed N from the Mike Hall barn is 9th with $53,240 and Wayne Given’s Sicily completes the top 10 banking $51.780.
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Thursdays at Dover Downs, is an outstanding pacing day: Missle J got back to the winner’s circle after a powerful stretch burst to score a 1:50 victory in the $30,000 Preferred pace on March 8 to give Tim Tetrick his fourth win. Last week’s feature winner Sicily took the lead at the start for Montrell Teague and led thought-out approaching the finish line when Tetrick move four wide on the final turn and zoomed past in the closing strides to win by three-quarters of a length. Sicily was second with Major Uptrend and Tony Morgan third.—-A big upset came when 29-1 Ponderingjacksfame roared home for a 1:51.3 lifetime best to win for the second straight start in a $18,000 Winners pace. A 76-1 shot Ain’t It Fun came on for second to set up a $718.80 exacta with another longshot 35-1 Cash Is King third.— Never Say Never N closed with a rush to win the $14,000 Winners-Over pace in 1:51.—In another $14,000 division, Sweet Rock took control the start with Vic Kirby in the bike and was in front the rest of the way in 1;50.4 for his second win of the year,—Dialamara came from off the pace to track down the leaders for a 1:51.3 victory I one of two $25,000-$30,000-$35,000 Claiming paces. In the other top claiming division, Jet Airway was too much for seven foes drawing off for a 1:50.1 conquest. —-Tim Tetrick led all drivers with four wins. Corey Callahan was next with three. Trainers Josh Green and Dylan Davis haltered two winners.
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DURING THE WEEK; Rollin Ring Afire made it a double for driver Ross Wolfenden, trainer Curtin Daniels and owner Howard Taylor on Monday (March 3), a card which included 50-1 and a 23-1 longshots. Mike Cole drove four winners.—- Rollin Ring Afire scored a decisive 1:52.4 victory in a $12,500 Claiming feature.— Joe Fellows drove 50-1 shot Timshel to a 1:57.3 triumph in a fillies and mares pace coming back in the final strides to beat PF Silver Classic (Morgan) for his second lifetime win in his 55th start.— Mike Cole’s third of four winners came when Royal Tequila notched a 23-1 upset in a winners of 1 trot—Seven of the 13 races were won by a horse paying double-digits.—- Sheez On a Cruze was an odds-on favorite in the $9.500 Winners trot giving Montrell Teague two wins. It was Sheez On A Cruze’s third consecutive win.—In addition to Mike Cole’s four bagger, drivers Teague and Ross Wolfenden, trainers Curtis Daniels and Wayne Givens and owner Howard Taylor had two wins each.
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Theresademoninme had just enough in a deep stretch battle to nip Rock Of Cashel by a short nose in the $25,000 Open trot at Dover Downs on Tuesday (3/4).—A tight photo-finish gave the gelding the nod for is third win of the year in 1:54 with driver Jonathan Roberts. Lazurus finished third in front of Celebrity Pegasus.—In a $13,500 Winners trot, Tyson, who hadn’t raced since winning a Yonkers feature last February 2017, returned to the races with a powerful victory. Trainer Ed Gannon posted his second win of the day. It was his fourth win in-a-row over two seasons.–Snappy Dresser made it two in-a-row to close the card with a 1:54.3 win taking a $13,000 Filly and Mare pace It was Josh Greens second training win. —Crazshana got up to win a $12,000 Winners-Over trot-in 1:55. I Like My Boss led until the final steps and finished second—. Blownoutofthewater came on to overtake Tough Mac to win in 1:54.3 in a $12,000 division.— Tim Tetrick, trainers Josh Green and Ed Gannon, had two winners apiece.
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On Wednesday (March 7), Bettorhaveanother won her third $25,000 Mares Open in four weeks scoring a 1:50.3 victory equaling her best winning time set two weeks ago. Tony Morgan was at the controls sitting behind Bettorhaveanother while Nerida Franco and Scandalicious battled for a :26.4 opening panel. Bettorhaveanother took the lead aa Nerida Franco N broke stride early in the stretch and it was an easy 1:50.3 win. Terror At Night was second, Apple Bottom Jeans finished third in her first start since last July.— She’s A Billionair added 50-percent of the $14,500 Mares purse to her account after Mike Cole notched his second win on the card steering a 1:55 victory overtaking Miss Profitability late in the stretch.—In another $14,500 distaff event, Vic Kirby got up with Shesarocker in 1:53.3.—In a $12,000 Mares Winners Over pace, Hold It Hanover went a big trip getting to the front and keeping the lead in the lane for a 1:52.2 triumph.—-Vince Copeland closed out the card guiding Goin Again, to a 1:54.3 decision in a $12,500 Mares winners pace.—A longshot early in the program is becoming customary. Winrlosedrnkdaboze and Jonathan Roberts won at 25-1 for her first win.—Mike Cole, Jonathan Roberts and Tony Morgan had driving doubles.
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Former Leading Driver champion Tim Tetrick has the lead over seven-time defending champion Corey Callahan, 125-122 after 70 race days and with three weeks remaining this meet. Tony Morgan is third with 109 wins. Vic Kirby is fourth with 72 and Art Stafford Jr., fifth, with 70 wins.
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Going into this weekend, the USTA reports that Corey Callahan is #6 in winning drives for 2018 with 75 with Tony Morgan right behind in 7th place with 74 wins. In money won by horses driven this year, Callahan is 6th in the rankins with nearly $850,000 and Tim Tetrick is 9th with just under $75,000.
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Defending champion Dylan Davis is back in first-place, among trainers with 35 wins, Wayne Givens and Josh Green have moved into second-place tie with 31 winners each. Jim King is now fourth with 29 wins. Mike Hall rounds out the top five with 26 trips to the winner’s circle.
Marv Bachrad