After breaking stride while on the move last week, Bettor And Bold was at his best on Tuesday, March 3, closing with a big rush to win the $20,000-$25,000 Four & Five-Year-Old Claiming/Handicap over a ‘sloppy’ track at Dover Downs.
Race favourite Just Bettor (Vic Kirby) left from post 8 but could not get past Button Fly (Toby Lynch) until finding room nearing the half mile. Bettor And Bold raced in mid-pack, and then with a blanket of horses turned down the lane. Trace Tetrick took Bettor And Bold to the outside and blew past his rivals for a 1:54.1 victory, equaling his lifetime best clocking
The win was the second in his last four starts for the Bettors Delight-Impertinent gelding, trained by Jim King for owners Tim Tetrick and CC Racing. UF Dragons Cruiser (Allan Davis), the leader in mid-stretch, finished second. PL Hoofhearted (Corey Callahan) was the show horse. Just Bettor, who has earned a check in all eight of his 2015 races, was fourth.
Corey Callahan had a four win day while Trace Tetrick and Allan Davis had three winners. Jonathan Roberts, Tony Morgan and trainer Kathleen Brewer made two trips to the winners circle. For Morgan, his pair of wins gives him 14,977 in his career.
Tough Mac, Tirade Hanover and Wind Of The North square off in the $18,000 Open/Handicap trot on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Dover Downs. First post is 4:30 p.m.
Mike Casalino’s Tough Mac, with Corey Callahan driving, has won five of six starts this year with only a second, beaten a neck, in a parked-out mile, to mar 2015 perfection. Tirade Hanover, meanwhile, has strong credentials as well. Vic Kirby, and owners Steve Moss, the Solomons and trainer Leigh Raymer, have two wins, and four seconds in six outings. Last week, trainer-driver Daryl Bier and Joann Dombeck’s Wind Of The North closed with a rush to finish third losing by 1-¾ lengths in his seasonal debut.
Ron Pierce will drive J.L. Sadowski’s Tag Up And Go, a newcomer to the track’s top trot of the week, who has wins at both Meadowlands and Yonkers in his behalf. Im So Striking, driven by Eddie Dennis for E&K Stable and Lois and Earl Walters drew post 1. Tina Clark and Joe Clark’s Baximum with Allan Davis driving, has been a consistent performer all meet. Brit Evans and Foulk Stables’ Prayer Session with Corey Callahan returns after a quick trip to Yonkers.
(with files from Dover)