Longshots prevailed in both lucrative Dover Downs handicap co-feature races when Dapper Dude won a tenacious homestretch battle to win the $30,000 Preferred and Mustang Art got up at 13-1 in the $27,500 Delaware Special on Monday, Jan. 25.
Turning for home race favourite Bushwacker (Tim Tetrick), riding a three-race win streak, had a short lead but was under duress with Major Uptrend (Corey Callahan) coming on the outside while Adventure Bound (Allan Davis) were closing along the passing lane. Coming on fastest of all was Dapper Dude behind the urging of Vic Kirby to reach the finish line first in 1:51. A razor-sharp chestnut son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest enjoyed an impressive record in his previous six races -- two wins, two seconds and two thirds -- racing for trainer Jim King and owner Richard Pollucci. Major Uptrend was right there finishing second with Bushwacker a tight third. The win was Dapper Dude’s 21st lifetime with earnings in excess of $915,000.
The passing lane became the difference in the $27,500 Delaware Special Handicap. Marcus Miller rolled Mustang Art along the pylons to score a 1:52 conquest at 13-1 odds for trainer Jim McGuire, owners Max Walton and Greg Papaleo. A regular at the track in top events, the Artiscape-Paula Seelster gelding posted his 41st career victory good for $683,752 in earnings. Captive Audience (Callahan) came charging through the stretch to take second in front of early leader Just A Jolt (Tetrick).
Casey At Bat hit a home run in a $15,000 Four- & Five-Year-Old Male pace registering a 1:52.4 victory for Sharon White, Denise Davis and Legacy Racing. It was a lifetime record for the four-year-old gelding by Sportsmaster-Odds On Casey, conditioned by Wayne Givens. Warp Factor Three (George Dennis) was runner-up in front of Rockin Cougar (Tony Morgan).
In a second $15,000 section, Class Six keeps on winning. The Western Ideal-Can Du River gelding made it four consecutive trips to the winner’s circle and seventh time in his last eight outings for driver Yannick Gingras and owners Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing Stable with a lifetime best 1:51 triumph. Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) took second with Twin B Stingray (Kirby) third.
Little Ben, a Jeremes Jet-Honeys Bud Lite gelding, driven by Tetrick for Janet Hudson and Jo Ann King, won the first of two $14,000 Male Winners-Over paces in 1:51.1. Contraband Hanover (Callahan) came between horses to just miss finishing second. Framed Art (Art Stafford Jr.) had been leading until the top of the stretch and had to settle for show money.
Baxter Stable’s Roll Big (Callahan) notched his second straight win in the other $14,000 division with a 1:52.2 decision. Denslow Hanover (A. Davis) closed smartly for second with Cams Director (Jonathan Roberts) third. The victory was the fourth in the last five for the Cams Card Shark-Queen Of Arts gelding.
Several streaking horses added on with victories. Arty Foster’s Brioni, a son of Four Starzzz Shark-Armbro Bahama, won for the sixth straight start as Marcus Miller guided a 1:52.4 win in a $15,000 Male Claiming pace. Tom Lazzaro’s Rocknroll Jewel (Gingras) won his fifth in a row scoring a 1:51.2 triumph in the $20,000-$25,000 Male Claiming Handicap. Sentencing Memo (Russ Foster) took the passing lane to post his fourth straight win in a $12,000 pace for young horses in 1:53, giving owner-trainer Arty Foster a double. A nose back was early leader Suchasenceofhumor (Jim Morand) with Captain Jeremiah (Gingras) third.
SPRINGFORTH, PARADISE LOST IN $20,000 MARES OPEN TUESDAY
Springforth, a 15-1 longshot winner last week and Paradise Lost, an impressive winner stepping up, head the $20,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
George Dennis drove Jeff Clark’s Springforth from off the pace before sending her to the outside and she responded with a 1:52.2 score. Bay Pond Stable’s Hearts And Flowers was one length behind finishing third. Howard Taylor’s steady Shine N Shimmer will get regular driver Corey Callahan back this week.
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Bob Winkelman’s Paradise Lost and Ross Wolfenden has been a longtime regular in top female paces. Last week, she won wire-to-wire in 1:53.2. JFE Enterprise’s Scandalicious and Tim Tetrick leaves from post 1. The other contenders are Elliesjet N, driven by Art Stafford Jr. for Barry Spedden, Kevin Evans, Nanticoke Racing and trainer Josh Parker. Earlier this meet, she stepped up through the ranks winning eight in a row. Janice Connor’s All About Kisses, reined by Vic Kirby, recently arrived from top class events at Yonkers and Foulk Stables’ Valerya has upset credentials.
(with files from Dover)