Downers Delight overcomes outside draw

Downers Delight (Bettor’s Delight) was forced to overcome an outside post harness racing draw and foggy weather conditions to defeat the best pacers on the ground in the $25,000 Open Handicap pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night.

Downers Delight and driver Pat Berry were launched from post eight and cleared the lead easily, pacing to the opening quarter in an incredible 25.2.  Wehadababyetzaboy, was unable to find a seat at the quarter pole and was parked..

Downers Delight continued to torture  Wehadababyetzaboy who would not find the pylons the entire mile.  The half mile was reached in 54.1, a 28.4 quarter.

Downers Delight continued to rumble up the backstretch leading the field to the three quarters in 1:22.1, a 28 flat quarter. Wehadababyetzaboy began to weaken on the outside.Tack Room Chatter circled wide and in attack mode at the top of the stretch.  Itsrockandroll A was closing fast from the pocket.

Downers Delight, the 4/5 betting favorite, edged away from the field in deep stretch to win by one and a half lengths.  He paced the mile in 1:49.4 and paid $3.60 for the win.

Itsrockandroll A finished 2nd and Hundred Dollar Man was 3rd.

DOWNERS DELIGHT REPLAY

Downers Delight (Bettor’s Delight)  is owned byTlb Racing LLC. Traci Berry trained and Pat Berry drove. James Downer is the breeder.

Driver Tim Tetrick scored a four bagger with four driving wins on the 13 race betting card. 

After the10th race feature, driver Pat Berry, who drove Downers Delight commented. “ I know he is capable of a big mile.  I was a little concerned with Tack Room Chatter and Itsrockandroll A closing fast on me but he dug in.” 

Bally’s Dover races Monday thru Thursday. Post time is 4:30 pm.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover