On an unusually mild, Spring-like late February 23 day, Yannick Gingras rang up five winners on a card boasting quick times including a North American season's record 1:49 mile on Thursday at Dover Downs.
In the $30,000 Preferred, Gingras guided Take It Back Terry home in 1:50.4 after a 1:50 performance winning the $27,500 Delaware Special with the resurgent Emeritus Maximus.
In the feature, Gingras bidded his time as Bushwacker cut out the early fractions until late in the stretch when Take It Back Terry whizzed past for a 1:50.4 victory, his first of the new season. Ron Burke conditions the Western Terror-Second Symphony gelding for Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr, Phil Collura and Burke Racing Stable. It was the eight-year-old’s 45th lifetime success putting his earnings over $1.25 million. Bushwacker (Corey Callahan) was second in front of Cajon Lightning (Art Stafford Jr.), whose streak of four straight seconds was broken with a third-place showing. Sweet Rock was scratched.
When 2017 arrived, Emeritus Maximus was racing in the $10,000 claimers. After a win, he was claimed for $15,000 by Don Marine and Brent Hall. After consecutive wins from the Kyle Moore stable, the once highly regarded colt stepped up to the Delaware Special last week where he finished second, beaten a neck. This time, the seven-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Eternitys Delight, reined by Gingras, held off the fast-charging Blazing Bobby Sox (Stafford Jr.) at the wire for a 1:50 decision. Seventh Secret (George Dennis) was the show horse.
John McGill and Brian Carsey’s recent acquisition, Missile J, after three straight Meadowlands romps, stepped up to the $20,000 Open to make it four-in-a-row stopping the timer in 1:49.1 with Jonathan Roberts in the bike. In addition to setting a lifetime mark, the altered son of American Ideal-Cantors Daughter, now has won 12 of his 23 career races with two seconds and two thirds and has earned $343,502. Ima Rebel (Tony Morgan) closed to finish second in front of Vapour N (Pat Berry). Jet Airway did not start.
The first fast race on the card came when Mildred Ventriglio’ Major Uptrend, by Somebeachsomewhere out of Tricky Tooshi, gave Tony Morgan the first of his three Thursday wins notching a lifetime best 1:49 conquest in an $8,500 male pace. The time was three-fifths of a second faster than Bushwacker's North American season's record set at Dover on January 19.
Gingras and Morgan accounted for more than half of the driver wins. Bret Brittingham won two as did trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing.
Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are dark days.
(With files from Dover Downs)