For the second straight week, Modern Family came from off the pace to win the $23,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:53.1 on a windy Wednesday, Feb. 22 at Dover Downs.
With Daryl Bier at the controls, the youngest of seven starters in the week’s top trot, Modern Family was strongest in the stretch overtaking Hes Spooky and Eric Carlson in mid-stretch on the way to his second straight conquest.
A four-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Domestic Diva, Modern Family was purchased by Bier, Charles Dombeck and Richard Pollucci in January and has quickly begun to pay dividends earning $29,500 in three winning starts for his new connections.
Hes Spooky, finished second for the second straight time after three wins in his previous starts while Anders Bluestone showed signs of returning to form for Ross Wolfenden coming from last at the half to finish third.
Awsome Valley also has paid big dividends for Barbara Boese, who claimed the four-year-old gelding in late 2012. Trainer-driver Carlo Poliseno sent the altered son of Valley Victor-Nannina Ambrossio away from post one and never looked back besting eight rivals in 1:56.1 to win the $16,500 Winners Over Trot. Sun Of A Victory (Daryl Bier) was the runner-up with Spunky Vic (Eric Carlson) finished third.
Brad Hanners drove Major Herbie to victory in 1:56 to win the $13,500 conditioned trot, his second consecutive victory, for David Rovine and Seafood Delight Stable and trainer Josh Green. By Here Comes Herbie-Independent Dame, Major Herbie was chased home by Wark Woman (Corey Callahan) and Classic Filly (Eric Carlson).
Dawn Marie Gannon’s Astarsborn Hanover took care of six other starters to win one of two $13,000 4&5-Year-Old trots in 1:58. Eric Carlson guided the winner, a Donato Hanover-Always A Starlet four-year-old gelding conditioned by Ed Gannon Jr., to his first win of the year. Dazzling Valley (Corey Callahan) and Stirling Abacus (Ross Wolfenden) followed in order.
The other section went to Wonder Buns, owned by trainer Merle LaFountaine, who won for the second time in 2013. Eddie Davis Jr. drove the Victory Sam-Fat Bottomed Girl four-year-old mare to a 1:57.2 career-best clocking. The Magic Of Paris (Corey Callahan) and Movement (Corey Braden) were second and third respectively.
The biggest payoff of the trot-filled card came when Bier drove Bill Cantrell’s 61-1 shot Skyway Priss to a 1:57.2 upset in an $11,500 conditioned trot. The Cincinnati Kid-Priscilla’s Jewel five-year-old trained by John Cabot paid $125.60 for a $2 win ticket. Idol Kemp (George Dennis) was next. New Identity (Allan Davis) took third.
Versado, already a four-time $35,000 Preferred Pace winner, takes on last week’s first-place finisher Dancin Yankee and newcomer Annieswesterncard in the Thursday feature race. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. No live racing on Friday. Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 1 p.m.
(Dover Downs)