Overlooked at 28-1 George At Bigs stormed home a winner in the $40,000 Open/Preferred Handicap pace at Dover Downs on Monday, March 9. It was "Think Green" at the track and it wasn't yet St. Patrick's day with leading trainer Josh Green haltering three winners, all for owner Larry Baron
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Next to last on the final turn Corey Callahan moved George At Bigs four-wide turning for home and then sped past the leaders for a 1:52.2 triumph in the week's top pace. Tim Tetrick, racing seventh in the field with I Aint No Fool, followed the winner making up ground with each stride but was still a length back at the wire. Eagles Real One and Eric Goodell held on for third.
Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta own the altered son of Cams Card Shark-Art Expo, a three time winner this meet to go with two seconds and two thirds in eight 2009 races. Wood, who has personally supported his humanitarian effort of digging wells to prove water in Ghana smiled after the race, "That win must have been providence. I just paid $100,000 for pipes to send overseas and was wondering how I was going to pay for it," said Wood. "This was the answer to my prayers!"
Mr Apples poured it on in the $37,500 Delaware Special. Jim Morand took the early lead with the Bettors Delight-Never In Paris five-year-old then fought off a continuing challenge from Art Director and Tim Tetrick until the three-quarters when Mr Apples sprinted into an uncontested lead on the way to a 1:50.3 clocking the fastest on the program. JK Lullabye closed with Corey Callahan to finish second. Art Director held on for third.
The Larry Baron-owned, Josh Green-trained combination came through with another victory when Eric Goodell won his second on the card reining Domitian Hanover, a Camluck-Debras Charm five-year-old, to a 1:51.4 victory in his first start of the year. U Lucky Guy led until deep stretch to finish second. Marchand and Corey Callahan was the show horse.
A recent Down Under acquisition by Preston Walls and John Lewis is paying immediate dividends. Ruling VC N roared down the lane for Brandon Givens to record a 1:52.1 decision in a $25,000 Winners-Over pace. It was the second win in three starts for the Washington VC-Ruling Delight gelding trained by Les Givens. Devils Ivy, the race favorite teamed with Ron Pierce, finished second. Thats Justice was third for Mark Gingrich.
Kentucky Rebel, owned by Rodney Mitchell and trainer Johnny Waite, made a power move past Next Flight after the half and opened up a huge lead on the backstretch as Mike Cole guided the Armbro Operative-Kentucky Scarlet gelding to a 1:51.4 win in a $21,000 Male pace. Truly Chris closed for George Dennis to take second. Prince Of Luck and Tim Tetrick was third.
In the $19,500 4&5-Year-Old pace, it was a two-horse dash down the lane with Caspian Prince and Ross Wolfenden holding off Rustys Gamble in 1:52.3. Richard Asley and Elbert Harrington own the five-year-old son of Shady Character-Grecian Formula in his second start of the year. It was the third win for driver Wolfenden and third winner for trainer Joe Hundertpfund.
(Dover Downs)