Dover, DE — Disturbed Hanover followed live cover and scored a 9-1 upset in the Mares Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday night (March 19).
Lulu Rocks and Cindy Jo sprinted for early position at the start of the race. Lulu Rocks settled in the pocket then brushed to the top passing the :27.2 opening quarter, forcing Cindy Jo to take a pocket ride. Lulu Rocks continued to lead the field to the half in :57.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on 1-5 favorite Ludacrous A as she held hopes of extending her three-race win streak.. Driver Corey Callahan angled her first-over at the three-eighths marker and she ground forward up the backstretch, towing Disturbed Hanover into contention second-over. Lulu Rocks braced for the challenge of Ludacrous A as the two mares traded punches passing the three-quarters in 1:24.4.
At the top of the stretch, Ludacrous A began to get leg weary, prompting Barton Dalious to circle three-wide with Disturbed Hanover in the lane and win by a head in 1:53.2.
Cindy Jo closed hard up the pylons for second; Ludacrous A was a game third.
Disturbed Hanover, a daughter of Big Jim who paid $21.20 to win, is trained by W. Bart Dalious for The Wiz Kids Stable.
Earlier on the betting card, trainer Les Givens won both legs of the Bally’s Dover late closer for 3-year-old pacing fillies with Little Miss Peyton and Bella Artiste.
Montrell Teague led all drivers with four wins on the night; Tony Morgan had three.
Thursday’s (March 20) feature is the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace, featuring three previous winners in the class: Wehadababyetzaboy, Itsrockandroll A and Captaincountrystar. First post is 4:30 p.m.