DOVER, Del. — Bushwacker recorded his third win at the meet this season scoring a 1:50.2 harness racing victory in the week’s top pace the $30,000 Preferred on Monday, Feb. 1. It was de ja’ vu all over again for 13-1 Mustang Art winning the $27,500 Delaware Special at Dover Downs. Tim Tetrick tripled.
For the second straight week, Tim Tetrick who piloted Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker into the early lead but this time did not stop in the stretch on the way to a 1:50.2 success in the $30,000 Preferred Handicap pace. The five-year-old altered son of Rocknroll Hanover-Dolphins Can Talk posted his sixth victory in his last eight starts with a second and a third for trainer Chris Ryder. The win pushed his career bankroll to $411,212. Doctor Butch (Tony Morgan was a fast finishing second with Dapper Dude (Vic Kirby), last week’s winner third.
For Mustang Art, the only change was a driver, Sean Bier. Just as last Monday, he went off at 13-1, and the Artiscape-Paula Seelster gelding left fast to get the lead, then sat second behind runner-up Bad Boy Matt (Allan Davis) until late in the stretch before coming on for a !:50.2 triumph for his second consecutive $27,500 Delaware Special win. Captive Audience (Corey Callahan) was the show horse. Max Walton and Greg Papaleo own Mustang Art who won for the 42nd time.
Casey At Bat made it two straight victories in $15,000 4&5-Year-Old Male company to lead off the program as Allan Davis drove the four-year-old Sportsmaster-Odds On Casey gelding to victory number-5 this meet for trainer Wayne Givens and Sharon White, Denise Davis and legacy Racing. Totally Dreamy (George Dennis) finished second with Twin B Stingray (Kirby) third.
Blazing Bobby Sox came from off-the-pace to take the lead three-wide turning for home and rolled to a 1:54.1 decision in a $15,000 4&5-Year-Old pace. Driver Art Stafford Jr. who owns The Panderosa-Liamatters gelding with his dad, Art Stafford, won for the fifth time this meet. Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) led until the closing steps and finished second in front of Denslow Hanover (Tetrick) third.
Vic Kirby put Soto into the lead and there was no catching the four-year-old Rock N Roll Hanover-Incredible Beauty horse in a 1:51.1 $14,000 Male Winners-Over pace. Contraband Hanover (Callahan) was next best wile race-favorite Just A Jolt (Tetrick) came storming down the lane from way back to finish third. The win was the second in-a-row and
Third in the last four for owners ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta.
Brioni, a five-year-old Four Starzzz Shark Ambro Bahama horse, claimed last week, won for new owner-trainer Ron Davis for his sixth consecutive victory, romping to a 1:52 conquest in a $15,000-$20,000 Male Claiming Handicap to give Tony Morgan, the second leading winning driver in North America, his third win on the program. Beavercreek Artist (A.Davis) and Sir Jonathan Z Tam (Tyler Davis) were second and third respectively.
Impressive winners from last week meet
Hearts And Flowers and No Respect, a pair of impressive winners last week, head the 'Ground Hog' day, $20,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
After taking the lead in front of the grandstand, Bay Pond Stable's Hearts And Flowers had clear sailing for Allan Davis on the way to a 1:52.1 victory having enough to hold off the consistent and fast finishing Springforth, owned and trained by Jeff Clark with George Dennis driving. Race favorite JFE Enterprise's Scandalicious and Tim Tetrick, finished third.
John McGill's No Respect turned in a convincing 1:52 triumph in her last start and will be driven by Vic Kirby from the rail. Cheyenne Robin, the only four-year-old in the contest, was absent last week after a near wire-to-wire victory, finishing second by a nose, in her last start. Corey Callahan will be at the controls this week.
Chris White's Fashion Showdown won this event two weeks in-a-row with Ross Wolfenden, but was parked-out last Tuesday and again is burdened with post 8.
Other starters are Bob Winkelman's Paradise Lost piloted by Montrell Teague, and Elliesjet N, owned by Barry Spedden, Kevin Evans, Nanticoke Racing and trainer Josh Parker, who should enjoy leaving from post 2 this week.
Among as talent rich assortment of top female paces is a $15,000 Mares Winners-Over pace led by last week's 1-2 finishers, Playncardswitroddy (Dennis), owned by George &Tina Dennis and Ask W stables, and Lorie and Paul Davis' Lady Beth (Wolfenden) and a $12,500 distaff pace featuring Howard Taylor's steady Shine N Shimmer (Callahan) and Foulk Stables' Valerya (Jonathan Roberts). .
Monday through Thursday racing starts at 4:30 p.m. No live racing on Friday and Saturday. Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight.
There is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner's Circle Restaurant's acclaimed Buffet and for those planning to stay at Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad
