Crossfire N repeats in Mares Open at Dover
March 23, 2005,by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — For the second straight week, Crossfire N proved to be the best in the $27,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Tuesday, March 22 at Dover Downs. Ann Other Porsche won the $18,000 Mares Winners Over Pace. Dover Downs Photo Crossfire N rallies in the lane to win the Tuesday feature at Dover Downs. As she did last week, Mike Cole raced Crossfire N from off the pace and last season’s Horse of the Meet responded with a strong come from behind performance to win the top distaff event of the week.
Toy Dragon cut out the early pace for Steve Warrington. Jim Morand moved Clock Watcher up on the outside on the backstretch and the pair raced as a team around the final turn and through the stretch. Crossfire N moved to the outside as the field entered the homestretch and the six-year-old Son Of Afella mare mowed down the leaders by mid-stretch. Clock Watcher edged Toy Dragon for place honors with Hasty Dewar and Kevin Sizer coming on to finish fourth.
Owned by Wendy Crissman and 49 Racing Stable, Crossfire N, trained by Chuck Crissman, won for the second time in 2005 to go with three seconds and a third accruing $53,630 in purses this year.
In the sub-feature, for the fourth time this meet Ann Other Porsche won the $18,000 Mares Winners Over Pace. Steve Warrington drove the eight-year-old to the front and led throughout, but Ann Other Porsche had to fend off a determined late bid from 48-1 RN Artist, driven by Roger Hammer, at the wire in 1:53.1. Jennie Fanetta (Ed Nickle), in her local debut, closed in the passing lane to take third. The win was the second for Warrington, third for meet leading trainer Kevin Lare and the second for his Harness The Power Stable.
Bluebird Wanda won the $13,500 distaff pace as Hal Belote drove a 1:54.3 win. Race favorite Jenny’s Picnic (Steve Warrington) finished a game second with Shes A Blast (Frank Milby) third.
In the $13,500 featured trot, Don Hawk, John Hynansky and trainer Dan Warrington’s Racsan Jenny raced the entire mile on the outside and still came home a 1:56.4 winner for Steve Warrington. The five-year-old Program Speed mare finally caught leader Wireless Image (George Dennis) in mid-stretch and then had to hold off a speed dash through the lane by Allusive Hanover (Valerie Warnick) before winning a nose photo. Wireless Image, after breaking stride in the stretch, regained his gait and finished third, edging New Dawn Hanover (Eddie Davis) at the wire.
Vicki Gram, trained and driven by Art Stafford, Jr., rolled down the stretch to overtake Main Gate Red Rock (Wayne Truitt) on the way to a 1:57.3 win in a $10,800 conditioned trot. Picture Seelster (Mike Cole) was third.
In a $10,000 conditioned trot, Jim Morand made the winner’s circle for the second time driving Game Speed, another Program Speed-sired mare, to victory in 1:57.4. Desert Pine (Les Givens) was a close second. Smokey Bear (Eddie Davis, Jr.) came on for third.
Roger Plante drove Kovach Stable’s Ideal Party to an easy 1:54.4 victory in an $11,400 Delaware pace. Jackie’s Shuffle (Jim King) finished second with Princess Cindy Lu (George Dennis) third.
Bob Larrimore’s How About Gal was much the best in an $11,000 distaff pace with Sean Bier in the bike. Lucille A (Jim King) was runner-up. Oneinamilliongirl (Ross Wolfenden) was the show finisher.
Crystal Bliss, driven by Jim Morand, nipped Costly Legs, after driver Steve Warrington dropped his whip in the stretch, during a lengthy head-to-head duel in a $20,000 Mares claiming allowance in 1:53.4. Heart Escape (Ross Wolfenden) closed well to take third.
The longshot of the day came when Storm Watch, owned by Sharon Emerson, Tina Dennis and driver George Dennis, moved four wide coming for home and chopped down the leaders at 33-1 odds in a $10,000 Delaware claiming allowance.
Trio of claiming features set
Three $40,000 claiming paces will head the Wednesday, March 23 Dover Downs program. Post will be at 4:30 p.m.
What shapes up to be the most interesting of the features will come in the last of 15 scheduled races. Bill Emmons’ Big League Barry will bring two straight impressive victories, and driver Brad Hanners, into the race, and will take on Don Hawk and Dan Warrington’s front-pacing Racsan Nuke and driver Steve Warrington. Wynfield Bob, owned by Brandrew Racing and Club Risque Stable, who will be driven by Herve Filion, will leave from the rail, and Thomas Thomas, owned by Juliana Swinford and Wendy Crissman, will be handled by Hal Belote.
Rounding out the field will be Outten and Fisher’s Perfect Cam, with Jim Morand aboard; Dan and Tom Courtemanche’s Morning Magic, to be piloted by Tim Curtin; Ronnie Mac A, owned by Crissman, Inc. and W.J. McDougall Racing, who will be steered by George Dennis; Larry Hughes’ Last Card Johnnie, who will have Rick Murphy driving; and Angelo Papa’s oft-claimed Ruthless Victor N, who will be driven by Kevin Sizer.
JD’s Warrior (Ross Wolfenden), owned by Vern and Jana Hood, will step up after a win and will head the first $40,000 claiming co-feature on Wednesday. JP Hickory (Brad Hanners) and ANZAC, owned by Curtis Larrimore and Harness the Power, both finished second their last time out.
Todd Wise and Jeff Franklin’s Golfman, Dom Rafanelli’s Galactic Council N (Roger Plante), and Ring Of Life, owned by Tim Hunderpfund and Roland Wainwright, all finished second in their previous start.
In the third $40,000 claiming pace, Howard Taylor’s Moon Sign (Ed Nickle) will leave from the second tier, and will face Country Girl Stable’s Magic Force (Ross Wolfenden), Cantwell Bridge Stable’s Lar’s Legacy (Brad Hanners), Carter Racing’s Bonn Rocket N (Jim Morand), and MJGB Racing’s Kyrios N (Travis Bowman) in a field of nine.
Two $25,000 races, a $20,000 claiming race, a $13,700, a $12,600, and an $11,400 Delaware pace, and an $11,000 pace for fillies and mares will also be on the strong, 15 race program.
Dover Downs races on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and on Monday through Thursday, post time will be at 4:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.