Crossfire N pulled away in the final steps to win the Mares Open Handicap.

In the week’s top race for female pacers, Toy Dragon, with Steve Warrington, and Roses Best, teamed with Toby Lynch, left in “land-rush” style side-by-side, going to the quarter in :26 before Toy Dragon persevered, taking the field of eight to the half in :54.1. Jim Morand wheeled Clock Watcher up to challenge on the backstretch with Crossfire N chasing and moving three wide at the three-quarters before taking the front on the final turn. Crossfire N and Clock Watcher raced as a tandem through most of the stretch before Mike Cole edged last season’s Horse of the Meet to the front at the wire in 1:51.3, the second fastest mile of this meet. Clock Watcher gamely held on for second with Cams Little Imp N a solid third for Ross Wolfenden. The rest of the starters finished well back.

The victory was the first of 2005 for Crossfire N, owned by Wendy Crissman and 49 Racing Stables. She previously had three seconds and a third in nine starts.

Dover Downs Photos

Hasty Dewar slides up the passing lane to win Tuesday’s co-feature.

In the sub-featured $17,500 Mares Winners Over Pace, Brooks Stable’s Hasty Dewar took the passing lane route to overtake battling leaders Rain Dance Kim (Travis Bowman) and Fake The Moment (Jim Morand) in deep stretch, then held off a fast finishing Go Flyin N (Brad Hanners) for a 1:54.4 score. Fake The Moment held on to finish third.

The win was the second straight for Hasty Dewar, a nine-year-old daughter of Cambest, and the third winner on the program for driver Kevin Sizer and his second as a trainer.

Midwood Stable’s odds-on favorite Coerfurst overpowered eight rivals to win the $13,500 featured trot in 1:56.3 with meet leading driver Brad Hanners piloting the easy win. Mr Performer (Art Stafford, Jr.) was a well-beaten second. Wireless Image (George Dennis) came in third.

A 38-1 shot, RN Artist, owned, trained, and driven by Roger Hammer, won a cavalry charge to the finish line in an $11,000 distaff pace to notch a 1:56 victory. Dream-A-While (Art Stafford, Jr.) finished second in the tight photo with How About Gal (Sean Bier) third.

Main Gate Red Rock took over at the start and Wayne Truitt pointed the six-year-old Illinois-bred gelding straight ahead for a 1:58.3 win in a $10,500 conditioned trot. Guzunthite (Herve Filon) saved ground the entire route and finished second. Ragland Andy (Jim King) took show honors.

In a $10,000 conditioned trot, Kevin Sizer rushed Rose Run Casanova away from the gate to take the lead after the start and never looked back in a 1:58 wire-to-wire victory, the second this year in five starts for owners Sizer and Brooks Stables. Vicki Gram (Art Stafford) closed strongly to finish second. Mic Mac Jack (Jim King) was third.

Kevin Sizer moved Ken Dawson’s End Zone three wide heading to the final turn, and after getting the lead breezed to a 1:55.3 victory at 12-1 to win a $15,000 Delaware claiming allowance. Mr Brooke Lyn (Jim Morand), the race favorite, finished second. Point Well Taken (Brad Hanners) was the third place finisher.

Claimers to be featured on Wednesday

A trio of $40,000 claiming paces will headline the Wednesday, March 16 card at Dover Downs. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m.

Last week, Don Hawk and trainer Dan Warrington’s Racsan Nuke made an unexpected break at the start, but then rallied for driver Steve Warrington, came back to take the lead, and then raced gamely and finished third. This week, he will start from post position eight in a field of nine in the first of the three co-features.

Secret Harbor, owned by Rodney Long, VIP Empire Stable, and trainer Greg Trotto, won one of last week’s $40,000 claiming races. Ring Of Life, owned by Tim Hundertpfund and Roland Wainwright, turned in a game triumph while racing overland for driver Ross Wolfenden. Robin Breasure’s Art Burn has one win and two seconds in his last three outings. Howard Taylor’s Moon Sign (Ed Nickle), Cantwell Bridge Stable’s Lar’s Legacy (Brad Hanners), and Rodney Mitchell’s Swinging Scooter A (Kenny Mitchell) will head the opposition.

In the second division of the feature, Don Irving and Sam McMichael’s Diamond Jack (Tim Curtin) will make his first appearance for a tag. Big League Barry (Brad Hanners) will make his first start for Bill Emmons after having been claimed last week prior to a victory. Juliana Swinford and Wendy Crissman’s Thomas Thomas (Hal Belote) will step up after having posted a win at the $25,000 level last time. Carter Racing Stable’s Bonn Rocket N (Travis Bowman) came from last at the three-quarters and won his last start.

Howard Taylor’s Jate’s Jake (Ed Nickle), Dan and Tom Courtemanche’s Morning Magic (Tim Curtin), and Art Brewer’s Sporty Nate (Mike Cole) all carry upset credentials.

The third division will be led by winning horses. MJGB Racing Stables claimed Kyrios N (Travis Bowman) last week in what turned out to be a 1:52.1 score. Dom Rafanelli’s Galactic Council N (Roger Plante) won in 1:52.2 last week, and Brent Outten and Virginia Fisher’s Perfect Cam (Jim Morand) must start from post position eight.

A $25,000 claiming race, a $20,000 claiming race, a $13,200 Delaware pace, an $11,400 Delaware pace, and a $10,500 pace will also be raced on a strong, 15 race program.