Dover Downs Photo

Crossfire N captured the Mares Open on Tuesday.

Sean Bier took the five-year-old daughter of Son Of Afella immediately to the lead and they never looked back as she posted her 11th win of the year for Wendy Crissman and 49 Racing Stable, raising her seasonal bankroll to $169,490. Last season’s Dover Downs Horse of the Meet disposed of Go Flyin N, her challenger on the backstretch, on the final turn and was all alone at the wire in a personal fastest time of 1:52.2. Turn It On (Eddie Davis) closed late to finish second. Jett Away (Bret Brittingham) was third best.

Bluebird Wanda, a recent addition to owners David Clark and trainer Jeff Clark, notched her first local win in taking the sub-featured $12,000 Fillies and Mares Pace. The three-year-old His Mattjesty filly showed her heels to eight rivals in a 1:53.3 mile. Cornsilk A (Eddie Davis, Jr.) came at the winner heading for the three-quarters with no success and held on for second money. Miss Fish Lady (Eddie Davis) finished third. Hal Belote drove the winner, one of his two wins on the card.

Elmer Fannin’s CR Daddy O made it two wins in a row in winning the $10,000 top trot of the night. Eddie Davis, Jr. guided the CR Commando colt to the first of his two driving victories, in 1:57.3. Esquire Ascot (Roger Plante) was second in front of Johnny Peanuts (Carlo Poliseno).

Racsan Jenny, owned by Don Hawk, John Hynansky and trainer Dan Warrington, won for the third consecutive outing, recording a lifetime record of 1:57.2 in an $8,000 Trot. Steve Warrington steered the Program Speed mare to her fourth career win in eight starts. Keystone Stratus (Eddie Davis) finished second in front of Lost My Track (Brad Hanners).

Four $100,000 finals for Delaware-breds to be raced

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series for two-year-olds will come to a close on Wednesday with four $100,000 finals on the program at Dover. Post time will be 4:30 p.m. Three $40,000 claiming paces will also be raced on the card.

Both ends of the Daily Double will be made up of $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series trots. In the first race, CR Mimosa has won both of her local starts with Eddie Davis, Jr. driving, since having been purchased by Elmer Fannin. The CR Commando lass set a stakes record of 2:00¹ when she held-off Delbert Cain’s Go Sassy Go and driver George Dennis by a nose in last week’s final preliminary. Glenn Wenzel and Dan Mock’s CR Southern Peach won in wire-to-wire fashion this past Wednesday for driver Ross Wolfenden, and Vega Commando, owned by Jim Scholtzhauer, Love Of My Life Stable, and trainer Andrew Stafford, who was second last time, drew post position eight for this final.

The one to fear will be Neil and Bette Bower’s J Bo, the winner of the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series Final at Harrington Raceway. After an untimely break at the start, Brad Hanners rallied J Bo, caught the field, and vied for the lead before tiring and finishing third last time. The rail should aid Helen Looney and JoAnn King’s Mystery Solved, who will be driven by Jim King, Jr.

The other starters will be Paul Schell, Gene Daisey, and Gene Daisey, Jr.’s Hour Flashy Brat, with Herve Filion to drive, and John and Paul Williamson’s Donna’s Image, to be handled by Les Givens.

Med Vac will be the one to catch in the second $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series Final for colt trotters. A winner of $178,840 this year for Adam Victor and Son Stable, Ross Wolfenden will drive the CR Commando gelding. Diana Harrison’s sharp Maid To Command, with Tim Curtin to drive, and Elmer Fannin’s Command Of Heart, a four time winner this year who will be driven by Eddie Davis, Jr., will leave from posts one and two, respectively, and driver Bobby Myers’ homebred Yankee Command is burdened by the outside post, number eight.

Gene Hubler’s Shock Troop, with Jim King, Jr. to drive, Green Racing’s Hunter’s Prize, Arlie Tinder’s Howitzer, with Herve Filion to be in the bike, and Ramkarran Singh’s Shaewatumanagaveu and driver Ron Millman will complete the lineup.

In the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series Final for filly pacers, Ron Mario’s Born Storyteller, to be piloted by Jon Roberts, and Milford Shaw’s Bayland Lady, who will have Cat Manzi aboard, have each been impressive and have won two consecutive races. Tom Dillon and Walter Hight’s Buckleup Baby and driver Brad Hanners posted the fastest preliminary win, in 1:55². Badlandssue And Me, with Jim King to be aboard, will be coupled with Bayland Lady as a King Stable entry.

Other factors in the wide-open filly final will be Les Walls and Jack Upchurch’s Sailongtong, with Kevin Sizer doing the driving, and Drivin’ Miss Rudee, with Eddie Davis driving for owners Bill Camp and John Summer. Joanne Matthews’ Hickory Cecilia will be reined by Ross Wolfenden, and George Leager’s Badlands Cowgirl, who will have Walter Callahan aboard, may be hindered by starting from post position eight.

In the other Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Series Final, KDK Standardbreds’ Valerin K, who set a stakes record 1:52⁴ win last week, his seventh win in nine starts, must start from the outside with Brian Sears in the sulky for the $100,000 colt final. Chester and Deborah Lebo’s Wireless Hanover, to be handled Jim Morand, has won his last three races. Victor Kirby will drive Scott Woogen’s Winsmith Buddy, who was a 1:54⁴ winner in his last start.

Tom Dillon, Walter Hight, and trainer Steve LeBlanc’s Neptune Hanover will leave from the rail with Tim Curtin doing the steering. Adam Victor and Son’s Oozie’s Bad Boy and driver Ross Wolfenden will start alongside Neptune Hanvoer. Starting from post three should aid John Celii, Erv Miller, and Joe and JoAnn Thomson’s Open Shot, who will be driven by Cat Manzi. Gary and Barbara Iles’ Hot Lather, with Brad Hanners to drive, and Beach Believer, the only non-Badlands Hanover-sired starter in the final, has speed to burn.

Three $40,000 claiming paces will also be raced on the Wednesday program. In one, Country Girl Stable’s Magic Force (Mike Cole) and We’reanamericanpan (George Dennis), who were winners last time out, will face each other.

Gary Minner and Pete Richardson’s Coopers Creek N (Steve Warrington), a winner last week and a winner of three of his last four races, and Draw Me Bye (Brad Hanners), claimed by Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman last time out, will lead the second $40,000 claiming race.

In the 13th race, nine will start. Baldachino, Outten, and Green Racing’s The Cammissioner (Jim Morand), Rodney Long’s Herb Abbe N (Ross Wolfenden), and Irwin Samelman’s Hezaumpn Bluegrass (Frank Milby) are apparently the sharpest.

Dover Downs has added a Pick 4 to its wagering format, and it will be featured on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races each day, and a fifth Superfecta has been added to the track’s daily, six day a week, 15 race schedule. Superfectas will be offered on the third, fifth, ninth, 13th, and 15th races. Simulcasting from major harness and Thoroughbred tracks is featured daily, from 12:0 noon until 12:00 midnight.

Again this year, Dover Downs will race 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.