by Marv Bachrad, Publicity Director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — New Zealand champion Christen Me N stole the spotlight on the Thursday (Dec. 7) card at Dover Downs, which included Art Stafford Jr. placing his name in the history books after steering two consecutive horses to dead-heat victories.

Fotowon photo

Christen Me paces powerfully to the line to notch his fourth victory from five starts at Dover Downs.

Christen Me N (Ross Wolfenden) collected his fourth win from his last five starts in Delaware by obtaining a first to last triumph in a six-horse $30,000 Preferred/ Handicap.

The 9-year-old gelding, trained by Jim King Jr. and owned by Richard Poillucci, bolted past leader Major Upstart just past the three-quarter pole to win by a head in 1:49.2. It was a lifetime best for the gelding.

Soto (Stafford ) was up for second in front of Bettor Memories (Russell Foster).

In the seventh race, Stafford, driving Gentlemen’s Bet and Ascaryone Hanover with Corey Callahan, could not be separated by the photo finish camera in 1:52.2 as both horse reached the finish line in the identical time of 1:52.2.

Jason Skinner trains and co-owns the Bettor’s Delight-Misty Speed gelding with Justin Skinner.

One race later, Stafford guided Cajon Lightning to catch front-pacing Sicily and Montrell Teague in 1:49.4 to dead-heat in the $25,000 Open Pace. Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farm own Cajon Lightning.

Reginald Hazzard II and Legacy Racing own Sicily, now a seven-time winner this season, who is trained by Wayne Givens.

Stafford Jr. came right back with a strong come-from-behind 1:52.3 victory, his third on the card, in an $11,000 winners pace.

George Teague’s speedy Daiymir notched his second consecutive win for Montrell Teague and Clyde Francis by pacing in 1:51.1 score to win an $18,000 winners pace. Hypothetical (Morgan) and Doubleshottahott (Stafford Jr.) were second and third respectively

Bill Sartin and Mark Salerno’s Special T Rocks, trained by Joe Hundertpfund Jr., got up in the final stride by a neck to best previously unbeaten Bailey’s Rock N (Callahan), who had won his previous four starts in this country. El Bloombito (Sean Bier) cut out the fractions and finished third.

The win was Allan Davis’ third on the program.