by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
DOVER, Del. —Rainbow Blue made a successful local debut while L Dees Val waited for a photo finish to insure victory in split $26,613 Matron Three-Year-Old Filly Pace elim divisions Monday, Nov. 8 at Dover Downs.
Ron Pierce pulled Rainbow Blue out of fourth just after a :26.1 opening quarter by Arlene and Jules Siegel’s Fie Foe Fire, driven by George Brennan, and in a blink of the eye the huge Artiscape filly took the lead and set the tempo the rest of a 1:53.1 mile to win for the 18th time this season in 19 races. Pierce, the sport’s leading money-winning driver this year at more than $11 million, iced the victory with a :28 final panel. Paint Creek Farms’ R Burning Desire teamed with Brian Sears to have just enough to hold off Mentally Stable’s Whig Party and John Campbell at the wire to finish second. Haralabos Giannoulis’ Heather’s Gambit, reined by Mike Lachance, secured the fourth and final qualifying birth in next Monday’s $189,500 final.
The biggest winner’s circle throng in track history, more than 50 people turned out to greet Rainbow Blue, driver Pierce, owners Brenda and trainer George Teague, and Kevin and Ron Fry, of Houston, Del. Rainbow Blue has now won $1,095,063 in 2004 and 24 of 26 career starts and $1,107,748 lifetime.
While Rainbow Blue was a 1-9 wagering favorite, a well-matched field of six talented distaffers took part in the second $26,613 elim. Dumain, Kutil and Baldachino’s L Dees Val prevailed for Hall of Fame driver John Campbell in a tight win photo in 1:52, three-fifths of a second from the track record set last Fall in the Matron by Burning Point. Glowing Report, owned by Marvin Rounick of Narberth, Pa., driven by George Brennan, finished second while Kikikatie, holder of the track record for a freshman filly set last November, stormed from far back with David Miller to finish third. Tom Klosky and Norm Parker’s Artbitration finished fourth for Pat Berry.
Also on the power-packed 15-race card, in a $26,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, Soho, owned by Schoor-Racing and Val d’or Farms, renewed his fondness for the track’s winner’s circle notching a 1:53.1 wire-to-wire performance with Brad Hanners at the controls. Chewy Gross (Jim Morand) nipped Ashlee’s Big Guy (Tim Curtin) for second.
Kenny Mitchell recorded his second win of the day guiding his brother Rodney Mitchell’s Dream Wave home in 1:53.3 in the $26,000 Delaware Special. Another brother, Phillip Mitchell was winning trainer. Fox Valley Oshaughnessy A (Bobby Myers) overcame starting from post 8 to finish second in front of veteran Crew Cut Zach (Brad Hanners).
Youthful Jon Roberts made a winning move with Bay Sign, taking the lead heading to the three-quarters and then held off Jason William N (Steve Warrington) for a 1:52.3 score in one of two $18,000 Jr. Open paces. In the other division, Brian Sears drove Nick Callahan’s homebred Mater This to his sixth consecutive win, and seventh in nine races this year, clicking off a 1:52.3 win. Homeland Hero (Jim King) was second. Smokey Range N (David Miller).
A 12-1 shot Lamaze Hanover was one of two winners for Helen Looney and JoAnn King. Jim King Jr. steered the four-year-old gelding to a 1:53.4 win. My Cap N (Brian Sears) was next. Atenothnbutdscootr (Leah Vandervort) was third. The owner-trainer-driver trio made the winner’s circle in 1:56 with Cornas to win a $15,000 Delaware Winners-Over Pace. Fox Valley Michael (Jim Morand) was second with C’mon C’mon C’mon (Ross Wolfenden) finishing third.
Eddie Davis Jr. rallied Eric Ell’s The Joking Man in deep stretch to catch Global Village (Steve Warrington) and E Shopper (Bobby Reeser) who dueled from mid backstretch. They finished second and third respectively in the 1:54.1 mile.
In a $10,100 Delaware-Bred Pace, Tug River Jim, owned by Wilson and David Clark, took a 1:54.2 victory. Sempre Veloce N (Steve Warrington) and Decent Card (David Miller) were second and third respectively.
Crossfire N, Cam Little Imp N to head $22,000 distaff pace A high-powered field of eight will lineup in a $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace, the first distaff feature of the new Dover Downs meet, on November 9. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m. (EST). No stranger to this event is Wendy Crissman and 49 Racing Stables’ Crossfire N, last year’s Horse of the Meet. Mike Cole will drive the 5-year-old, who won her most recent start in 1:56 at Freehold Raceway. Her arch rival, Cams Little Imp N, has proved to be an excellent buy. Last spring, Lester Walls and Jack Upchurch purchased Cams Little Imp N, and she has been right there in her most recent outings, in which she finished second in three consecutive starts with Brad Hanners driving. Others who were winners their last time out include William Moffett’s Nuclear Power, with Eddie Davis, Jr. to be in the bike, and who will start from the rail; Wilson Clark and trainer Jeff Clark’s resurgent veteran Rondel Franco N, who will be piloted by Hal Belote and who will depart from the outside post, number eight; and the newcomer, Martin Scharf’s Stonebridge Kisses, who was a winner of her last two start in 1 1-16 mile Opens at Yonkers Raceway. She will have the services of the meet’s defending driving champion, Jim Morand. The rest of the field will includes Carol Karter’s Kadijah, with Steve Warrington aboard; Carter Racing’s Felicity, to be handled by Ross Wolfenden; and the only 3-year-old in the field, Love Lace Mindale, a Midwest standout recently purchased by Richard Roberts, R.G. Crammer, and driver Bobby Reeser. A talented nine horse field will vie in the co-featured $15,500 Winners-Over pace for mares. Jeff Franklin’s Rain Dance Kin (Travis Bowman), who the Horse of the Meet two year’s back, will leave from the rail, alongside of Bob Larrimore’s How About Gal (Joe Sullivan), who is enjoying her finest year to date. Wayne Starkey and Jeff Marvel”s Scootbyal (Vic Kirby) was an impressive, wire-to-wire winner in her most recent start, and Les Walls and Jack Upchurch’s Go Flyin N (Brad Hanners) will seek to regain her winning touch after a four race win streak ended last time out. Other viable candidates are Seasin, who races for owner, trainer, and driver Roger Plante, and who is another previous Horse of the Meet; the Toby Lynch owned, trained, and driven Roses Best; Bettyjane Corey’s Love That Hall; Hal Belote, Rodney Mitchell, and Ron Reed’s Cornsilk A (Eddie Davis); and Rodney Long’s Mapua Magic N (Ross Wolfenden). Only five horses were entered in the Matron Stakes for 2-yar-old colt and gelding pacers, an as a result no eliminations have been carded. Instead, the five will race for a $298,800 purse on Tuesday, November 16. Eleven AM drew the rail in the Matron, and will race against Keither, Synero’s Z Tam, Speed Demon, and Roddy’s Bags Again. 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 noon until midnight (EST). 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.