Dover, DE — Downers Delight overcame an outside post draw and foggy conditions to defeat the best pacers on the grounds in the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night (March 5).
Pat Berry launched Downers Delight from post 8 and cleared the lead easily, pacing to the opening quarter in an incredible :25.2. Wehadababyetzaboy was unable to find a seat at the quarter pole and was parked.
Downers Delight continued to torture Wehadababyetzaboy, who did not find the pylons the entire mile, through the half in :54.1 and three-quarters in 1:22.1. Wehadababyetzaboy began to weaken on the outside on the far turn, forcing Tack Room Chatter to circle wide and switch into attack mode at the top of the stretch. Itsrockandroll A was closing fast from the pocket.
Downers Delight, the 4-5 favorite, edged away from the field in deep stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:49.4.
“I know he is capable of a big mile,” said Berry of the victorious son of Bettor’s Delight. “I was a little concerned with Tack Room Chatter and Itsrockandroll A closing fast on me, but he dug in.”
Itsrockandroll A finished second and Hundred Dollar Man was third.
Downers Delight, who paid $3.60 to win, is owned by TLB Racing LLC and trained by Traci Berry.
Driver Tim Tetrick scored four wins on the 13-race card.
Bally’s Dover races Monday through Thursday. Post time is 4:30 p.m.