Dover Downs Photo

Rondel Franco N (on the inside) holds off Turn It On in Tuesday’s feature.

For the third distaff feature in a row, Rondel Franco N turned back eight rivals in scoring a 1:52.2 triumph for Hal Belote. The New Zealand-bred Falcon Seelster mare held off a late bid by Turn It On (Eddie Davis) to notch her ninth win of the year, and fifth in her last six outings, for owners Wilson Clark and trainer Jeff Clark of Centreville, Maryland. Rondel Franco N has now earned $98,764 in 2004 and $353,581 lifetime.

Time Flies N overcame starting from an outside post to score a 1:52.4 victory in the $15,500 Filly and Mare Winners Over Pace. Red-hot driver Brad Hanners guided the five-year-old In The Pocket import for Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman to her seventh win of the year. Sandtana Score N (Jim King, Jr.) closed boldly to finish second in front of Scootbyal (Vic Kirby). The win was the second of three wins in a row for Hanners.

My Gal Phyl raced outside for most of the mile and still prevailed in a 1:54 effort to win an $11,500 Filly and Mare Pace. Payton Place (Brad Hanners) was second. How About Gal (Joe Sullivan) was a game third. It was the second win in a row for trainer-driver Roger Hammer, who owns the four-year-old Arturo daughter with Clair Corle.

Hammer drove RN Artist to a dead heat win with Leroy Johnson and Teague Inc.’s Chessy Rose (Brad Hanners) in the race before.

Track defending dash-win champ Jim Morand clicked on consecutive $15,000 Delaware claiming pace winners. Morand drove Tim Beaver’s Jock Osborne to a 1:54.4 win and followed with Green Racing’s Crisp Sahbra home in 1:55.4 in the other.

Mike Cole also had a driving double, taking both $10,000 claiming paces. Cole teamed with Brian Richard’s GE’s Oliva for a 1:55.3 win. He later guided Erika Paradee’s Machfour Par Tees to a 1:55.3 victory.

In three Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund two-year-old filly pace second round preliminary events, Born Storyteller, Buckleup Baby and Bayland Lady scored victories.

Jon Roberts took Ron Mario’s Born Storyteller to the front and set all the fractions in a 1:57.4 victory, sealing the decision with a :27.4 final quarter to win the first $15,000 DSBF prelim. The Badlands Hanover filly is trained by Bib Roberts. Sailongtong (Kevin Sizer) was a strong second place finisher, while Missy Mae (Ron Hill) was third.

The second $15,000 DSBF prelim was won by Buckleup Baby, also by Badlands Hanover. Brad Hanners drove the Steve LeBlanc-trained filly to victory in 1:55.2 for owners Tom Dillon and Walter Hight. Drivin’ Miss Rudee (Eddie Davis) finished second. Badlandsue And Me (Jim King, Jr.) was third.

Milford Shaw’s Bayland Lady, with Jim King, Jr. in the bike, winner of the $100,000 Harrington DSBF Final, won her second straight, turning in a 1:56.4 victory in the third $15,000 prelim. Hickory Cecilia (Ross Wolfenden) finished second while Lady Coyote (Eddie Dennis) recovered from a misstep at the start to come back to finish third.

The top eight finishers from the two preliminary rounds will return next Wednesday, December 8 for a $100,000 DSBF Final.

Three $40,000 claiming races and second Breeders Fund Preliminaries to be raced on Wednesday

A trio of $40,000 claiming paces and the second round of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Stakes for two-year-old trotters will be raced on Wednesday at Dover Downs. Post time will be 4:30 p.m.

In the first of the triple overnight features, Roy Parker’s Maverick Seelster, to be reined by trainer-driver Eddie Dennis, and Rodney Long’s Mattnifesto, with Vic Kirby in the bike, will lead a field of eight in the first of two $40,000 claiming paces. Johnny Waite’s Watch Hill should be tough from the rail, with veteran Eddie Davis holding the lines, and Coopers Creek N, with Steve Warrington driving for Gary Minner and Pete Richardson, can not be overlooked.

Other strong contenders include Levine, Casalino, and Golden Goose Enterprises’ All The Answers A, to be handled by Ross Wolfenden; the hard-hitting The Devil Himself, with Brad Hanners in the sulky; Jacks Folly A, who will be in the hands of Eddie Davis, Jr.; and Pfeil, owned by Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman, who must overcome post position eight.

Cantwell Bridge Stable’s Lar’s Legacy (Herve Filion) has moved up, from $25,000 to $30,000, and last week to the $40,000, and has posted victories. The four-year-old Cam’s Card Shark gelding will tangle with another 1:53¹ winner last week, Alton Lynch, Sr.’s We’reanamericanpan (George Dennis). Pacific Challenger (Eddie Davis, Jr.), owned by Pat Mitchell and Bill Sculley, will be tough from the rail. Gary Wolf’s Wynfield Bob (Hal Belote) and E Shopper, owned by Richard Roberts, Bob Figliozzi, and driver Bob Reeser, has upset credentials. Tom Weber’s veteran Bedrock Café (Jim Morand), Charles Miller’s Hezapeach (Brad Hanners), and Ron Davis’ Elijay Ed (Vic Kirby) will complete the competitive lineup.

Baldachino, Outten, and Green Racing’s The Cammissioner (Jim Morand) and Company Stock (Hal Belote), owned by Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman, will drop into a claiming race for the first time in the third division. Two of the sharpest rivals drew outside posts, Louie Paglierani’s On The Tee (Les Givens) and Irwin Samelman’s Hezaumpn Bluegrass (Frank Milby). Two other challengers on the way up are Howard Levine and Golden Goose Enterprises’ Mr Doitforus (Eddie Davis, Jr.) and Elbert Harrington and Betty Brittingham’s Butter Free (Bret Brittingham). Ronnie Mac A (George Dennis), owned by Crissman, Inc. and WJ McDougall Racing, will be the other starter.

The Daily Double will be comprised of two Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminaries for two-year-old filly trotters, and two colt divisions will be raced on the early, non-wagering portion of the card.

J Bo (Brad Hanners), owned by Neil and Bette Bower, who was winner of the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Final at Harrington Raceway, will make her first local start. Pam Wagner’s Virginia Breeders Stakes Final winner Lady Commando (Vic Kirby) is another who will be making her first Dover Downs start. Rodney and Ken Mitchell’s ENS Maltese Falcon (Eddie Davis), Glen Wenzel and Dan Mock’s CR Southern Peach (Ross Wolfenden), and Jim Scholtzhauer, Love of My Life Stable, and Andrew Stafford’s Vegas Commando will lead the opposition.

The second division, also to be raced for $15,000, will feature two first round winners, Elmer Fannin’s CR Mimosa (Eddie Davis, Jr.) and Mystery Solved (Jim King, Jr.), owned by Helen Looney and JoAnn King. A third CR Commando filly, Delbert Cain’s Go Sassy Go (George Dennis), Hour Flashy Brat (Herve Filion), who is owned by Paul Schell and Gene Daisey and Gene Daisey, Jr., and John and Paul Williamson’s Donna’s Image (Les Givens) are all upset-minded.

In the first of two Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminaries for trotting colts, which will start at 3:55 p.m., Elmer Fannin’s Command Of Heart (Eddie Davis) and Diane Harrison’s Maid To Command (Tim Curtin) will lead a field of six to post.

The one to catch in the second division will be Med Vac (Ross Wolfenden), owned by Adam Victor and Son Stable, and Gloria Myers’ Yankee Command (Bobby Myers) is his chief threat.

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 12:00 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.