Bay Sign takes Dover Downs feature
December 13, 2004,by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Bay Sign, the only four-year-old in field, won the $28,000 Preferred Handicap while Clinton Debriefed took the $26,000 Delaware Special, the co-featured paces at Dover Downs on Monday, Dec. 13.
Jon Roberts used starting from the rail with Ron Mario’s Bay Sign to good advantage in the Preferred Handicap saving ground all the way then rolling along the passing lane to get up in a 1:53.2 winning mile. Ashlee’s Big Guy, with Tim Curtin driving the leader turning for home, held on in the tight finish for second. Soho and Brad Hanners came on strongly in the stretch, despite taking a few bad steps in mid lane, to finish third.
Clinton Debriefed moved to the outside heading to the clubhouse turn and followed cover until the final turn when driver Travis Bowman, who won two races on the card, took the 2003 Horse of the Year in the Canadian Maritimes four wide and then streaked home a 1:53.1 winner. Jeff Franklin owns the four-year-old trained by Steve LeBlanc. Jim Morand, driving Jacksbrotherjoe, came on late to finish a game second. Decent Card, driven by Billy Mann, was third.
Razor sharp Bobnoxious, owned by Dan and Tom Courtemanche, was strongest in the stretch overpowering seven rivals for driver Tim Curtin in 1:53.2 to win the $22,000 Open Pace. Cornas, piloted by Jim King, was second. Instigator (Jon Roberts) was the show horse. The win was the third in four starts for the Nude Beach-sired four-year-old.
Next Flight, the 2004 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund champion, scored a 1:52.1 wire-to-wire victory with Jim Morand at the controls, for one of his two wins during the night, in the $18,500 Jr. Open Pace. It was the three-year-old Shotgun Scott gelding’s seventh win of the season hiking his seasonal bankroll to $149,010 for owners Henry Faragalli Jr. and III, Bell Bauman and trainer Del Cote. Racing Naked flew down the stretch to finish second for George Dennis while Steve Warrington guided Jason William N to third money.
Larry Hughes’ 18-1 Last Card Johnny, teamed with Rick Murphy, raced alongside front-pacing favorite Tons The Best for the last quarter mile before pulling off for a one-length victory in the $15,500 Delaware Pace. Tons The Best held on for second. Fifteenletters A (Brad Hanners) was third.
There was no catching Ken and Betsy Wood’s Evrybodyplaysafool, reined by Eddie Davis Jr. for trainer Eric Ell, in a $10,500 conditioned pace to his second straight victory, in 1:52.4. Corporate Rrraider (Tim Curtin) closed well to take second in front of No Wishes (Jon Roberts).
Cat Manzi had a three-win day. The Hall of Famer drove Distant Game to a 1:54.3 win in a $30,000 Claiming Pace for Wayne Pryor, John Gearhart and Wendy Crissman. Kilkerran Scot in his first start for owner Bill Emmons who claimed him last week, was Manzi’s second winner in 1:53.2 taking another $30,000 claimer. Manzi then guided Arty Foster Jr.’s Just Like Sam home in 1:55.3 to win a $25,000 claimer.
Mares Open pace to top TuesdayEight fast distaffers will go to post in a $22,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday, and a $12,000 distaff pace will head a strong undercard. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m. (EST).
My Gal Phyl, a 4-year-old Arturo mare owned by Clair Corle and driver Roger Hammer, will be the only starter who won the last time out. Wayne Pryor and Wendy Crissman’s Time Flies N will return to the distaff ranks, with Sean Bier at the controls, and Brem, Nichols, and McGee’s Jett Away has been sharpening up and will attempt to return to last year’s form, and will be driven by Bret Brittingham.
The meet’s leading driver, Brad Hanners, will be behind Les Walls and Jack Upchurch’s Go Flyin N, and Carter Racing’s Felicity will have the services of Ross Wolfenden. Drawing post position should aid William Moffett’s Nuclear Power, with Eddie Davis, Jr. driving, but JoAnn King’s Lucille A, to be driven by Jim King, Jr., will start from an outside post position for the third straight week.
A $15,500 winners-over pace will have nine starters. Dave Clark and trainer Jeff Clark’s Bluebird Wanda (Hal Belote) and Jay Low (Ross Wolfenden), owned by Jeanne McInnis and Nancy Jackson, are both riding winning streaks, and they will take on Bettyjane Corey and Marion Andrew’s Sandtana Score N (Jim King, Jr.), Roger Hammer’s RN Artist, and Rodney Mitchell and Ron Reed’s Cornsilk A (Eddie Davis, Jr.), who all finished second in their most recent.
The other contestants will be Wyatt Starkey and Jeff Marvel’s Scootbyal (Vic Kirby), Fred Hertrich III’s Silver Dialing (Ross Wolfenden), who has won two of her last three races, Jeff Franklin’s Rain Dance Kim (Travis Bowman), and Roberts, Crammer, Rosenstock, and trainer-driver Bob Reeser’s Love Lace Mindale, who will be returning from the Meadowlands.
There will be an $11,000 feature trot. Kim Book’s Meadowagogo (Hal Belote) scored a strong-closing, 1:574 win last time out and will be the one to beat in a field of nine starters.
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.