by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — After being idle for two weeks, Dapper Dude made his presence felt by closing strongly in the $30,000 Preferred Handicap for a 1:50.3 triumph in the President’s Day feature on Monday (Feb. 15) at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Dapper Dude was a 1:50.3 winner in the Monday feature at Dover.

Bushwacker, the leading money earning horse of early 2016, piloted by Tim Tetrick, was cutting out the pace and Mustang Art, the new season’s second top money winner, driven by Sean Bier, was sitting second. Vic Kirby put Dapper Dude into high gear heading around the final turn and The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest 7-year-old began to pick off the leaders and rush by for an easy victory. Mustang Art finished second for the second straight time after two consecutive wins. Bushwacker held on for third.

Trained by Jim King for Richard Poillucci, Dapper Dude won for the second time this year in four starts with two thirds. The win was his 22nd lifetime, lifting his earnings to $916,500.

Yannick Gingras and Apollo Seelster proved best in the $15,000 sub-feature for Winners Over male pacers, recording a 1:51.4 decision for owner Kapildeo Singh. Dylan Davis conditions the Camluck-April Three gelding who won for the first time in six starts this year. Totally Dreamy (George Dennis) was second in front of Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) in a busy photo.

Due to icy conditions making racing hazardous, the 13th, 14th and 15th races were canceled for the night.

Corey Callahan, Yannick Gingras and Montrell Teague reached the winner’s circle twice each.