Scuola Hanover secured her third consecutive win in taking the Mares Open Pace at Dover Downs on Wednesday night (March 24).
Moments Of Joy, the 4-5 favourite, and her driver Victor Kirby blasted off the wings and cleared for the early lead. She set uncontested fractions of :27.2 to the quarter and the half in :56.3. The field remained single file until Scuola Hanover moved off the pylons from third. Art Stafford Jr. and Scuola Hanover were in full throttle as they aggressively challenged the pacesetter Moments Of Joy and Victor Kirby before the three-quarters in 1:24.1.
In deep stretch, Scuola Hanover was able to maneuver past a game Moments Of Joy to the wire. Scuola Hanover won by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:51.1 and paid $5.80. She paced a last half in :54 and a last quarter in :27 over a rain-soaked "sloppy" track. It was her third-consecutive victory for owners, Arthur and Andrew Stafford as well as Thomas Ireland.
In the paddock after the race, trainer Andrew Stafford said “She is a worker and wants to race. She has a great attitude and has never been better.”
Her driver, Art Stafford Jr., agreed with his brother Andrew Stafford.
Moments Of Joy raced hard, but finished second for trainer Bryan Truitt. Victor Kirby drove. Infinite Symbol A sat the pocket and finished third for trainer Dylan Davis. Tim Tetrick was in the bike.
Racing resumes on Thursday night (March 25) with a post time of 4:30 p.m. (EDT).
(Dover Downs)