by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Art Burn made it three wins in a row while Secret Harbor won at 31-1 odds in the Sunday (March 21) feature races at Dover Downs.

Dover Downs Photo

Art Burn nailed Next Flight in the stretch to win Sunday’s feature at Dover.

Hal Belote played a waiting game driving Robin Breasure’s Art Burn as Next Flight (Jim Morand) cut out fast fractions in the $16,500 three, four, and five-year-old pace. The four-year-old Artiscape gelding began his move on the backstretch and finally collared Next Flight in mid-stretch before pulling away to a quarter length victory, his fifth in seven starts in 2004. There was a deadheat for show between Ace Of Arts (Ross Wolfenden) and Kurahaupochancelor (Vic Kirby).

Dover Downs Photo

Secret Harbor was an upset winner in the $14,400 Delaware Pace.

Secret Harbor pulled a surprise in the $14,400 Delaware Pace for Travis Bowman, driving for owner-trainer John Veazey. The Ohio-bred altered son of In The Pocket held off a late charge from Ronnie Mac A (Mike Cole) to post his first win of the year. Race favorite HBF’s Storm (Brad Hanners) could finish no better than third.

In the $9,500 feature trot on the program, Hang Time, owned by driver Vic Kirby, and Preston and Deborah Walls, held off a valiant try from Ironstone Handsome (Syl King, Jr.) the length of the stretch to score a 1:58² triumph. Bold Print (Ross Wolfenden) was the show horse.

Kirby won earlier driving John Lewis’ Veronica Speedwell to a 1:57² win in a $10,000 mares claiming allowance pace, nipping Base Alt (Bret Brittingham) with a strong stretch drive. Chaplet Hanover (Rusty Thomas) was a fast finishing third.

Bettyjane Corey and Marion Andrew’s Keystone Granite got up in the final strides for Jim King to leadoff the card, winning a $8,500 conditioned trot. Fess Up Ducky (Kevin Lare) was right there second in front of Pondo Trisity (Kevin Sizer) in the 1:59⁴ mile.

King completed a driving two-bagger, guiding Pam Plante’s Short People to a 1:57³ win in a $10,000 Delaware claiming pace.

Ross Wolfenden recorded a driving double. He teamed with Tim Hundertpfund’s Real Hush in a 1:56 victory in a $7,500 pace for three, four, and five-year-olds and then piloted My Mate Larry, which he trains and owns with Ingrid Proctor, to an impressive initial victory in 1:57³ to win a $6,000 maiden pace.

Soho, Clinton Debriefed meet again in $32,500 Preferred Pace

Clinton Debriefed, who equaled the track record for a four-year-old gelding with a 1:51⁴ win, returns to meet last week’s winner Soho in the $32,500 Preferred Handicap Pace on Monday, March 22. Tons The Best, a 1:51² winner in the $30,000 Delaware Special, leads the co-feature. Post time is 4:30 p.m.

The last four Monday cards produced a one-program speed record. The average win speed last week was 1:53 for the 15 races. This week a $21,000 Winners Over and two $18,500 Delaware Winners Over paces, four $30,000, two $25,000, a $20,000, a $17,500-$20,000 Mares, and two $15,000 claiming paces complete the race schedule.

In the $32,500 feature, Soho, owned by Schoor-TH Stable and Val D’or Farm, was never headed in a 1:51⁴ victory for Brian Sears last week. The week before, Travis Bowman drove Jeffrey Franklin’s Clinton Debriefed to a :26² final quarter and overtook Soho in a 1:51⁴ triumph.

In the previous feature, Bob and Lauren Tucker’s Ruffed Up, driven by George Dennis, also won in 1:51⁴.

Not to be overlooked in the select lineup are Doc & Me Inc.’s hard hitting Monsoon Hall, teamed with Brad Hanners, and Dan and Tom Courtemanche’s steady Corporate Rrraider, driven by Tim Curtin. Completing the field is Baldachino, Outten and Green Racing’s The Cammissioner, who equaled a track record earlier in the season when Jim Morand drove a 1:51⁴ victory.

Jeff Bartels’ Tons The Best (Kevin Sizer), fresh from a 1:51¹ career best effort last Monday, heads a field of eight in the $30,000 Delaware Special co-feature. Johnny Waite’s Bedrock Café N (Kenny Mitchell) has won this event twice including the week before. Crew Cut Zach (Brad Hanners), owned by Gary and Barbara Iles, is always a factor but must leave from post eight. To his left is Rojan Stables and Doc & Me’s battle tested Kilowatt (Rick Still). Griffin Conley’s fast finishing C’mon C’mon C’mon (Hal Belote) has been in peak form. Ross Wolfenden-driven Decent Card, an impressive winner last time out and Todd Wise’s The Devil Himself (Travis Bowman) start from posts one and two respectively.

The $21,000 Winners Over Pace is another speed-loaded affair. Jeffrey Franklin, the Lahams and Crystal Ball Stable’s Crystal Art (Travis Bowman), drew the rail with Doctor Rich (Eddie Davis), owned by Allan Pullman and Joe Glickstein) alongside. Doc & Me Inc.’s fast stepping Moscow N (Rick Still), Charles Miller’s Hezapeach (Brad Hanners), trainer Jeff Clark’s sharp Inner Success N (Eddie Davis, Jr.), Cams First Day (Mike Cole), owned by John and Pam Dean, and trainer Peter Tritton’s Franco New Deal N (Steve Warrington) have upset credentials.

Monday through Thursday post time at Dover Downs is 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday racing starts at 5:30 p.m. No racing on Friday. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant – (302) 674-4600.