by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Love You Most and Play Chip, both mares, won the week’s top two trots, while Med Vac, Command Of Heart, Mystery Solved and CR Mimosa won DSBF trotting eliminations on Wednesday, November 24 at Dover Downs. In the $23,000 Open Handicap Trot, Ed and George Hobbs’ Love You Most, a Yankee Glide mare, came out of the pocket three wide around the final turn and zipped past dueling leaders Jake’s Nordic, one of the winningest trotters of the 2004 season, and Tequila Daddy (Jim Morand), on the way to a 1:58 triumph, her third straight trip to the winner’s circle. Tequila Daddy got by Jake’s Nordic (Tim Curtin) for second money. The win was one of two victories for trainer-driver Eddie Dennis while the loss ends a two race win streak for Jake’s Nordic.
Earlier in the program, in a four-horse photo, Play Chip, owned by Massina Stables and trainer-driver Mark Lancaster, posted her third consecutive victory, a lifetime record 1:57 score. Ringside Leah (Leah Vandervort) edged Getinthephoto (Brad Hanners) for place while Pretty Goal Vita was another head back in fourth.
Daryl Bier showed no effects of a racing accident last week, returning to drive a pacer he owns, Gordyhatesmymom, to his seventh win of the season in 1:55.1, winning a $13,200 Delaware Pace.
A 42-1 shot, Country Girl Stables’ Magic Force, driven by Mike Cole, wore down Coopers Creek N (Steve Warrington) in late stretch to score a 1:53.2 win in a $40,000 claiming pace.
Warrington had driven Racsan Nuke to a 1:53 victory in an earlier $40,000 claimer for Don Hawk, John Hynansky and trainer Dan Warrington.
The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund moved into a trotting mode with two $15,000 DSBF colt trot elims and a pair of $15,000 filly elims.
Owner Elmer Fannin, trainer Bob Stevenson and driver Eddie Davis, Jr. collaborated on a colt and a filly elim winner.
Adam Victor And Son Stable’s Med Vac (Ross Wolfenden) set a DSBF record for a two-year-old gelding trotter while lowering his personal mark with a convincing 2:00 victory over a sloppy track. In his previous start, Med Vac finished third in the $204,550 Matron Final. Maid To Command (Tim Curtin) was second best while Howitzer (Eddie Davis, Jr.) recovered from a break in time to finish third.
In the other $15,000 DSBF colt elim, Elmer Fannin’s Command Of Heart (Eddie Davis, Jr.) won for the fourth time in eight starts this year, recording a 2:03.4 wire-to-wire victory. Yankee Commando (Bobby Myers) finished second in front of Hunter’s Prize (Jim Morand).
Helen Looney and daughter JoAnn King’s Mystery Solved (Jim King, Jr.) proved the best in the first of two $15,000 filly elims with a 2:01.2 victory. Donna’s Image (Les Givens) finished a game second. Hour Flashy Brat (Herve Filion), owned by Paul Schell, Gene Daisy and Gene Daisy, Jr., was the third place finisher.
CR Mimosa, recently acquired by Elmer Fannin, scored her first victory in the day’s second $15,000 DSBF filly edition with Eddie Davis, Jr. leading all the way for a 2:03 triumph. Go Sassy Go (George Dennis) closed to nip Vega Commando (Andrew Stafford) for second.
The first eight in the point tabulation qualify for $100,000 finals for both colts and fillies.
Monday through Thursday racing at Dover starts at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. There is no live racing Friday. Parking and admission are free. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-6400.