by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Bionicle N won the $13,500 four and five-year-old pace and Little Rock Spur took the $40,000 claiming feature on Thursday, March 2 at Dover Downs.

Dover Downs Photo

Bionicle N got up at the wire to win the Thursday feature at Dover Downs.

Greg Simendinger’s Bionicle N avenged a neck loss to Iza Miraculous Guy two weeks ago, holding off his rival by a head at the wire in 1:55.2 to win a $13,500 pace for young horses. Tim Curtin drove the Go For Grins gelding to his second win of the year, with two seconds, in five starts. Iza Miraculous Guy (Tony Morgan) saw a two-race win streak come to an end finishing second. Pan Au Chocolat (Ross Wolfenden) was third.

Little Rock Spur came on strongly in deep stretch to notch a 1:55.3 victory in a $40,000 claiming pace. Ross Wolfenden drove the Dragon’s Lair five-year-old, owned by Jeff Franklin and Todd Wise, to his first win of the year to go with two seconds and two thirds in seven appearances. Midnight Walk (Roger Plante) was second and Art Burn (Hal Belote) took third money.

Art Stafford, Ron Killen and trainer-driver Art Stafford, Jr.’s Limerick was an easy winner of the first $11,300 Delaware pace in 1:57.1. No Fuel Required (Tony Morgan) and Icy Hot (Jim King) were second and third, respectively.

In the second $11,300 division, Tony Morgan took Holly Tree Farm’s 10-year-old campaigner Speakeasy right to the front and cut out all the fractions in a 1:55.1 victory. The veteran was followed by Just Wave Hello (Eddie Dennis), who moved three wide around the final turn to take second. Snickers Hanover (Eddie Davis, Jr.) completed the trifecta.

Sixteen Candles, bred and owned by Louise Kinsey and William Oberle, Jr., and driven by Bob Kinsey, stepped off a wire-to-wire, 1:59.4 victory in a $10,800 Delaware fillies and mares, three, four, and five-year-old pace. My Buddy Puddles (Herve Filion) was a fast closing second, with Miss Cameo Please (Sam Belote) third.

In $20,000 Delaware claiming paces, Brandon Givens got the second of his three driving wins by guiding Marcia Murray’s JD’s Dragon home in 1:56.3. Stonebridge Premio (Tony Morgan) was second in front of GQ Moment (Billy Mann).

Earlier, Rodney Mitchell’s Riki Road N posted his first win of the year as Jim Morand steered a 1:56 victory in another $20,000 Delaware claimer. Irish Shad (Brandon Givens) was second. HBF’s Storm (Roger Plante) was the show finisher.

Brad Hanners teamed again with Barry Franklin’s Benn’s Hunter for another trotting success. Hanners piloted the altered son of Super Star Ranger, with customary quick speed at the start, away from the gate and was never troubled en route to a 1:58 win in one of two $10,000 trots. Put Them On Hold (Toby Lynch) was runner-up with Witness To History (Eddie Davis) third.

Darwin Kates’ Raging Prospect just got up at the wire in 2:00.1 to win the other $10,000 trot. Sam Belote drove the Sierra Kosmos gelding to a second consecutive win. Wireless Image (Tim Curtin) cut out the mile and finished second. ATT Princess (Jim King) took third money.

Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. with no live racing on Fridays. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.

Dover Downs Extra

For the seventh time this meet, Keystone Rodeo made it to the winner’s circle in the Monday Preferred Pace feature race. In five of the wins, the six-year-old paid double-figure returns. This time Keystone Rodeo only went off at 3-1 odds. Brad Hanners has been the pacer’s regular driver for trainer Kevin Lare. The latest win was the third in four starts and fourth of eight 2006 outings for Keystone Rodeo, owned by Fred and Anita Fialkow. The pacer has banked $147,675 since the meet began on Oct. 31, 2005 and $486,240 in his career.

Last Monday, Charms Shark became the winningest horse this meet when Jim Morand steered a 1:52.2 triumph in a $40,000 claiming pace. Charms Shark began the meet as a $7,500 claimer in the Josh Green barn. The pacer steadily rose through the ranks to the $25,000 level where he was recently claimed by Peter Hamelman, George Maske and Tom Morrison. Charms Sharp was then stepped up two classes for his latest win. Thus far this meet the Cam’s Card Shark five-year-old has won eight times since November.

Being handicapped by post position has not stopped Toy Dragon in the $26,000 Mares Open Handicap pace on Tuesdays. For the third time in her last four outings, the Dragon’s Lair-sired five-year-old mare has made the winner’s circle. The Warrington brothers, Steve and Dan, drive and train the fast front-pacing Dragon’s Lair five-year-old, who cut out all the fractions in a 1:51.2 victory. Toy Dragon, bred by Winbak Farm and leased by Joe and JoAnn Thomson is now three for six this year, earning $46,420 in purses and now is at $172,545 lifetime.

Future Destiny, a three-year-old filly pacer trained by George Teague, is one of the most talked about young horses in the sport. In only her second lifetime start last week, the daughter of Artiscape crushed a field of sophomores to win the Tender Loving Care Series at the Meadowlands, sweeping both the elimination and final. Co-owner Teague announced that former heavyweight champion George Foreman, who has five horses already in Teague’s barn, and Wayne Chrebet, the retired New York Jets passcatcher and current harness horse owner, have purchased a 20 percent interest in the filly from George and his sister Brenda Teague and their partners, Kevin and Ron Fry, the same team that own and race the brilliant world champion Rainbow Blue, who is slated to return to the races this May.

When Generous GB, driven by Tony Morgan, and Zatta N, with Ron Pierce, could not be separated by the photo finish camera on February 13, the 1:52.1 clocking became a Dover Downs track record for a pacing deadheat. The former record — 1:53.1 — was held by Bonn Rocket N (Kevin Sizer) and Paper Machine (Brad Hanners) and was set on February 23, 2004.

Every win recorded by driver Tony Morgan at Dover Downs this meet adds to an on-going track one season record. With six weeks remaining, Morgan, who broke the former track record for a season of 252 set only last meet by Brad Hanners, has already won 317 races. Defending track champion Brad Hanners is second with 149 wins. Jim Morand is third with 115 winners. Ross Wolfenden is fourth with 87 wins. Brandon Givens completes the track’s top five with 81 winners.

Josh Green is only 17 wins away from tying the Dover Downs record for wins by at trainer. Kevin Lare haltered a track record 99 winners in the 2003-04 meet. Green currently holds a comfortable lead in the standings with 82 wins. Lare is currently in second place with 53. Tim Crissman, third, has 51 wins. Chuck Crissman is fourth with 43 winners. Les Givens holds fifth in the standings with 35 wins.

For 2006, through Wednesday, March 2, U.S. Trotting Association figures show Tony Morgan comfortably in first place among North American drivers with 185 wins. Last year’s champion Cat Manzi is second with 143 winners.