Penzance Hanover splashed through heavy rains and a sloppy race track to win the Blue Hen Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night (Jan. 19).
Grand Cayman left alertly from post seven at the start of the race. Penzance Hanover left, then settled in the pocket, racing to the quarter. Grand Cayman set race fractions of :26.3 to the quarter, then backed off the half in :55.3.
Stag Party, who was making his third pari-mutuel start in four years, raced first up down the backstretch. The two pacers stepped off the three-quarters in 1:23.2. Penzance Hanover and driver Art Stafford Jr. waited patiently in the pocket to make their move. At the top of the lane, they roared home to win by three lengths in 1:51.3. Grand Cayman finished second and Sprocket took third.
Penzance Hanover is owned, trained and driven by Arthur Stafford Jr. of Felton, Del. The son of Somebeachsomewhere paid $6.40 to win.
Tim Tetrick drove four winners on the betting card.
Racing resumes on Monday (Jan. 23) at Bally’s Dover. Post time is 4:30 p.m. (EST).
(Bally's Dover)