Dover, DE — Fruit Snacker benefited from a pocket trip and captured the $18,000 winners-over trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night (Feb. 3).
It was a mad scramble for the early lead as Indy Be Quick, Inter Mischief, favorite Saint K and Victor Laszlo were all forced wide on the first turn by Fruit Snacker, who protected inside position.
Fruit Snacker won the early battle and parked out Victor Laszlo through a :27.1 opening quarter, but Victor Laszlo finally cleared the lead in front of the stands and roared to the half in :55.4.
Inter Mischief raced first-over up the backstretch, carrying Dyladmar into a second-over bid while Fruit Snacker rested in the pocket. Meanwhile, Victor Laszlo continued on the lead reaching three-quarters in 1:24.3.
A squadron of trotters were on the attack entering the top of the stretch. Inter Mischief continued his parked-out brush, and Dyladmar and Indy Be Quick continued on their menacing journeys, circling three-wide. Fruit Snacker found clearance along the pylons late to win by a measured length in 1:54.4 over a track rated good.
Indy Be Quick finished second and Inter Mischief was third.
Tony Morgan drove Fruit Snacker for owner Mark Howard and trainer Willard Reynolds. The son of Dover Dan paid $8.40 to win.
Wednesday’s (Feb. 4) program at Bally’s Dover features a $25,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace, in which Factory Girl, who won her last start, will take on Ballast and Jett Propelled. On the wagering front, the card features a trio of carryovers: $1,318 in the program’s first superfecta, $1,589 in the Pick-5, and $602 in the Pick-3. First post is 4:30 p.m.