Dover, DE – Itsrockandroll A used his quick early speed and benefited from a pocket trip again to win the $27,500 Blue Hen Open Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night.
Yannick Gingras rocketed Wehadababyetzaboy to the front approaching the quarter from post eight. Itsrockandroll A welcomed the same pocket trip as last week, with the same result.
Wehadababyetzaboy whistled through a rugged :26.2 opening quarter. He continued to control the race fractions, reaching the half in :55.
The backfield was in motion pacing up the backstretch. Muskateer Hanover braved the chilly air racing first-over, with Steven’s Saloon carried into a second-over journey. Wehadababyetzaboy continued hammering out the race fractions and reached the three-quarter split in 1:22, a :27 quarter, on a mission to bottom out the field.
Betting favorite Itsrockandroll A and driver Tim Tetrick pulled the trigger in deep stretch from the pocket and won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1. It was a lifetime mark for the 10-year-old altered son of A Rocknroll Dance. He paid $4.40 for the win.
Itsrockandroll A is owned by Elizabeth and Bret Brittingham of Delaware.
Wehadababyetzaboy finished second and Master Rigger was third.
After the race, trainer Don Brittingham said, “He’s the best horse I ever had. He’s a pleasure to be around.”
Jason Bartlett won five races on the betting card, including two Matron Stakes. Tetrick won four races.
Bally’s Dover races Monday-Thursday with a first-race post of 4:30 p.m. (EST).