by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Artistic Director lived up to his odds-on favorite’s role, scoring a 1:52.4 victory in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year-old colt and gelding pace final on closing day at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Artistic Director and Corey Callahan were 1:52.4 winners in the DSBF final.

Hot Roddy carved out the fractions for George Dennis with Golden Gun (Montrell Teague) prompting the pace early and Jim Morand-driven Ilikethmtrashy leading the charge down the backstretch.

Artistic Director, hustling up for Corey Callahan, went three wide on the final turn. The Art Director-DeMotta Bing first crop gelding, trained by Bobby Clark, recorded his fourth consecutive victory of the meet, chalking up a 1:52.4 decision in the biggest race of his short career. Hot Roddy was a game second with Ilikethemtrashy taking third money. Golden Gun never saw the rail and still finished fourth.

Kovach Stables, who owns the stallion Art Director, and Tina Clark own the winner, who now has won six of 13 lifetime races and $114,720 in purses.

Al Windon’s Ambush The Bags scored a 1:54.3 triumph with Allan Davis in the $20,000 DSBF consolation pace. The Roddy’s Bags Again-Ambush Killean gelding, trained by Billy Moffett, was followed by Quick Rod (Jim Morand) and Buzz McQueen (Corey Callahan).

Nova Artist, last season’s Horse of the Meet, displayed his patented late kick to get up in a personal best 1:49.2 to win the $35,000 Preferred Handicap.

Allan Davis began his path to victory in mid-backstretch, quickly catching up with the battling leaders and whirling past for a convincing victory. Malak Uswaad N (Vic Kirby) was second with Europan Union (Jim Morand) hanging on for third after a strong overland journey.

The victory was one of four for Allan Davis, who drove the Real Artist-Avon Lady 6-year-old for his trainer brother Martin and their parents, owners Kathy and Eddie Davis.

During the race day, Corey Callahan was honored for his fourth consecutive leading driver title; Josh Green won his ninth leading trainer award, this being the eighth straight season; and Versado, owned by KDM Stables and trained by Nick Surick, was voted Horse of the Meet by the Delaware Valley chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association.