Downers Delight wires the field

Downers Delight (Bettor’s Delight), no doubt a wire to wire winner in the $25,000 Open Handicap pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night.

After racing off the pace last week tonight was a different story..

Downers Delight and Itsrockandroll A  both exploded in unison at the start of the race. 

Downers Delight powered to the top. Itsrockandroll A ( Russell Foster) accepted the pocket trip.. Muskateer Hanover, who won this race last week, was sent off as the 1/5 betting favorite.

Driver Allan Davis briefly attempted a quarter pole move with Muskateer Hanover but wisely ducked back along the pylons in third.

Downers Delight gained the early advantage but may have paid the price when the opening quarter registered a taxing 25.3 quarter.

Driver Pat Berry throttled the speed of Downers Delight backing down the half in 54.4, a 29.1 breather.  

Downers Delight continued to advance up the backstretch.  Muskateer Hanover gained momentum 1st over and was charging hard in pursuit of the pacesetter. Both  pacers were eyeball to eyeball at the three quarters in 1:22.4, a 28 flat throw down. Wehadababyetzaboy drafted 2nd over and Itsrockandroll A was gathering momentum in the pocket

In deep stretch, Downers Delight began to draw off and won by a length and three quarters. He paced his mile in 1:50.4 and returned $8.60 for the win.

DOWNERS DELIGHT REPLAY

Itsrockandroll A sprinted along the pylons late but finished 2nd.

Muskateer Hanover finished 3rd.

Downers Delight (Bettor’s Delight) is owned by Tlb Racing LLC of Harrington, Delaware. Traci Berry trained. Her husband Pat Berry drove. James Downer is the breeder. 

After the race driver Pat Berry remarked about Downers Delight “  I was a little concerned with the 25.3 quarter and Itsrockandroll A coming late.”  He just doesn’t get the respect he deserves.” 

Armed Bandit won his 11th consecutive race. 

Drivers Pat Berry and Tim Tetrick achieved four driving wins each on the night 

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