Four Staces and Star Messenger meet again

Four Staces and Star Messenger battled it out last week in $20,000 Claiming Allowance for harness racing 4 & 5-year-old pacers at Dover Downs on Monday, Dec. 12. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

Corey Callahan enjoyed a 2-hole trip driving Mike Casalino and trainer Dylan Davis' Four Staces while Star Messenger and Nuclear Dragon raced side-by-side through much of the race before Nuclear Dragon suddenly pulled-up allowing Four Staces room to come out and sail past on the way to a 1:51.3 victory. This week Star Messenger has a new owner. Veteran horseman Gary Ewing claimed Star Messenger and will have Vic Kirby in the bike. RJ Thomas' Dash Point Hanover came from off-the-pace to finish second ahead of Star Messenger.

Gideon Stables' Nuclear Dragon and Jonathan Roberts will be among the chief threats. Owner-trainer Kathleen Brewer's Quick Shot, driven by Ross Wolfenden, makes a big position change from post 8 to #4. Jim Morand will drive Tribbett Racing's Big Secret. Trainer driver Jason Lynch and co-owner Jim Jacobs' Too Darn Hot and Brenda Teague's Fight The Truth, again drew the outside with Montrell Teague driving

The Tuesday feature is a $20,000 Filly and Mare Open pace.

Dover Downs Extra

Thursdays have become the top pacing day at Dover Downs. The highlight events are the $30,000 Preferred, won this week by Ideal and Little Ben racking up his fourth win in his last five taking the $27,500 Delaware Special. Monday is now a top claiming feature day, Tuesday remains for $20,000 Open Mares pace and Wednesday continues as trot day with the $20,000 Open Trot as feature race.

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First place in Dover Downs leading driver category has become a three driver battle. Through November, Vic Kirby had led the roster with winning drives. After  big week in which Yannick Gingras had five wins on Tuesday (12/6) and three more on Thursday (12/8), Tim Tetrick with a four win Wednesday and two more on Thursday, Gingras leads Tetrick by one 443-42. Kirby is now third in the standings with 40 winners. Allan Davis holds on to fourth with 31 wins. Ross Wolfenden, who won five races last Monday (12/5 is fifth with 26 winners. 

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Jim King remains as leader in trainers statistics this meet with 29 winners. Josh Green is second with 19 wins. Joe Hundertfund and Leigh Raymer are tied for third place with 17 wins apiece. Wayne Givens is fifth with 13.

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In a review of the sport in 2016; Wiggle It Jiggleit, in his 4-year-old season , led all horses earning $1,719,063 in purses for George Teague, Inc. and Teague Partnership. Racing Hill a 3YO pacer is second with almost $1.6-million; Always B Mike is third with nearly $1.5 in earnings. Triple Crown winning trotter Marion Marauder with nearly $1.5 earnings finished fourth ahead of Betting Line another soph pacer with nearly $1.5 million earned. All of the top 10 money makers for the season earned more than $1-million.

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Yannick Gingras earned around 13-million with the horses he drove this year. David Miller with $12.5 finished in second place with Tim Tetrick third with more than $12-million. Corey Callahan had his biggest season finishing in 10th in the final standings driving winners of $7.1 million. 

Marv Bachrad