Wolfenden wins 3, Smart Rokker takes feature

Smart Rokker, the middle of three wins for harness racing driver Ross Wolfenden, came on strongly to score a 19-1 victory in the Valentine's Day feature race on Sunday, Feb. 14 at Dover Downs.

Owned by Peter Paul and Peter Venturini III and trainer Brian Malone, Smart Rokker came on in the stretch to edge Race Me Villa (Montrell Teague) in a tight 1:51.3 photo finish. Allstar Preview (George Dennis) took third in the nine horse field. The win was the 19th lifetime for the $140,317 career winner, an altered son of Rocknroll Hanover-Sass Newton.

Wolfenden also drove trainer Kathleen Brewer's Quick Shot home in 1:53.4 to win a $20,00 $&5-Year-Old Claiming Allowance pace. The Art Major-Cannae Cindy gelding won for the first time in 2016, after a second and a third in now six starts. Three Day Forecast (Dennis) was a game second. If You Want Fire (Allan Davis) was the show finisher.

William Moffett's homebred Leyden was Wolfenden's other winner. The Quick Pulse Mindale-Staying Power gelding scored a 1:52.2 triumph in a Delaware non-winners pace. Movie Idol (Frank Milby) led early and finished second in from of SB Mikes Hot Beach (Mike Rossi) third.

In addition to Wolfenden's triple, Tony Morgan had a double.

BUSHWACKER SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT IN 30,000 PREFERRED MONDAY

Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker, the richest horse in the sport in early 2016 earning $71,100 to date, puts a two-race win streak on the line in the $30,000 Preferred pace, Monday, Feb. 15 at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

Tim Tetrick left fast last week and couldn’t take the lead until after a: 25.4 opening quarter by Mustang Art. The pair led the way around the turns with  Bushwacker holding off the Sean Bier driven Mustang Art, owned by Max Walton and Greg Papaleo, by 1 ½ lengths. Meanwhile Ken Jacobs’ Doctor Butch and Tony Morgan steamed from dead-last to finish third.

Richard Pollucci’s Dapper Dude, and Vic Kirby, won this event two starts back, and returns after a week off. Foulk Stable’s Sparky Mark, an impressive winner last start will be driven by Jonathan Roberts from the rail with Sweet Rock handled by Allan Davis for Reg Hazzard, G.P. Calloway and Legacy Racing, is alongside.  Howard Taylor’s steady Major Uptrend piloted by Corey Callahan completed the starters in the feature race.    

On the highly competitive undercard are a $15,000, a $14,000, two $13,500, and two $12,000 paces and a strong $20,000 Claiming pace.

Marv Bachrad