by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Man Of Science and Aggressive Command won the trots while Big Heart, Frog Juice and Moosehead Jack were the winning pacers in the second and final Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) preliminaries for 3-year-olds at Dover Downs on a rainy, Thursday, April 3. Brandon Givens and Jim Morand each drove three winners.

Man Of Science was a 1:58.1 winner for Brandon Givens.

The Givens team of Les, the father, and son, Brandon, continued their success in the DSBF trotting ranks with two more winners.

Man Of Science, just as a week ago, powered to a 1:58.1 victory just as the rain began. The CR Commando gelding is owned by Walt Blacharski and trainer-driver Brandon Givens. Indian Hill Mojoe, with Ron Hill in the bike, finished second for the second straight time. My Buddy Freddie and Wayne Long got up for third.

The second trot belonged to Les Givens, who kept Aggressive Command flat and the gelding took care of the rest in a 2:02.3 triumph at 10-1 odds. The Delbert Cain homebred overtook Man Of Style with Tim Tetrick on the far turn en route to the win. Bogey N Bacall with Corey Callahan completed the all-CR Commando-sired first three finishers.

Fotowon photo

Big Heart (#2) was a narrow winner for Jim Morand in his DSBF race.

In the $20,000 DSBF colt and gelding paces, Teague Inc.’s Big Heart lived up to his name as driver Jim Morand drove the Badlands Hanover colt, under duress for most of the last half, to a scintillating 1:54 triumph, his sixth in seven starts this season. Badlands Jaden, handled by Tim Tetrick, finished second with Dina’s Gamble and Corey Callahan putting in a game effort, attacking the winner on the backstretch and holding on for third.

The fastest division was all Frog Juice, another of Jim Morand’s three winners. He was named by his breeder-owner Gary Iles, a barber who told children getting a hair cut, that he would put “Frog Juice” tonic on their hair to make them look and smell good. Conditioned by Gary and Barbara Iles’ long time trainer, Bobby Clark, Frog Juice paced a career fastest 1:53.4 mile. Another Badlands Hanover gelding, Triple Black with Ben Stafford, Jr., closed from fourth to finish second. Martiniwith Olives and Tony Morgan took show honors.

The last prelim was an all Three Olives finish. Moosehead Jack stormed from five lengths back on the final turn to zoom down the lane and pass pacesetter Mimi’s Tyler and Tim Tetrick, the leader from the start, in deep stretch for his maiden victory in 1:55 for Lou Schaefer and Peter Heffering. Night Trouble closed with Jim Morand for third money.

The top eight point getters in the four DSBF sophomore divisions return on the meet’s closing day, next Thursday, April 10, for $100,000 finals.

No racing Friday and Saturday at Dover Downs

The next live racing action at Dover Downs begins on Sunday, April 6, with the full complement of 15 races. The Dover Downs 2007-08 season comes to an end on Thursday, April 10.

Dover Downs Extra

The fastest and richest horses in harness racing are featured on a giant all star Classic Monday program at Dover Downs.

As usual, Dover Downs plays host to the prestigious Classic Series first leg with four $85,000 divisions. Artistic Fella, Mr Feelgood and the Teague entry of Total Truth and Western Ace vie in The Pacing Classic. Event defending and Breeders Crown champ Vivid Photo and JM Vangogh are among 10 in The Trotting Classic. Southwind Tempo and Artcotic lead 11 to post in the Classic Distaff while Buck I St Pat leads eight female trotters in The Classic Oaks. The Monday 15-race showcase card is the finest in early season racing.

On Classic Monday, April 7, the first 300 fans attending the track and showing a Capital Club card will receive a special treat, the coveted Tim Tetrick Bobblehead.

Those who have registered for the Capital Cash Drawings must be in attendance when their name is called. The first drawing takes place at 5:00 p.m. The 6:00 p.m. drawing will also be for $100. At 7:00 p.m., the drawing offers a $500 reward. Then at 8:00 p.m., the cash prize is $1,500. The final drawing takes place at 9:00 p.m. and is for a $500 cash payoff.

The 2007-08 Dover Downs meet comes to a close on Thursday, April 10. On the closing card will be all four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund 3-year-old finals for trotters and pacers. As usual, the Horse of the Meet and Leading Driver and Leading Trainer awards will be presented.

Dover Downs horsemen and friends were generous in contributions to a special fund for Josh Beckwith, the teenager who passed away two weeks ago. The money raised in the effort by Janet Davis and Julie Watkins paid for all necessary burial arrangements. Several drivers and trainers donated their entire earnings on the Tuesday, April 1 card.

Tim Tetrick had a hot hand driving horses early in the week. The 2007 champion and all-time single-season dash win and money leader won five races on Monday, two on Tuesday, and added another five on Wednesday. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, Tetrick was also busy during qualifying races, where he drove seven of the 13 winning horses. Among them was Southwind Lynx in 1:54, a twice $1 million race winner last season for owners Kovach Stables and Teague Inc.

Claiming of horses is down 53 from last season’s figures through the month of March. This meet 312 horses were claimed, averaging $19,837 per claim. Last meet, at the same time, there were 365 claims, with the average price of a claimed horse being $21,837.

Tony Morgan has clinched his second track dash-win championship in three seasons. Morgan has won 332 races during the current 2007-2008 season. Tim Tetrick, last meet’s leader, is second with 213 wins. Corey Callahan, enjoying his finest season ever, is third, winning 182 races. Former champion Jim Morand is fourth with 153 winners, while Ross Wolfenden, the only other driver to reach three digits so far, holds fifth place with 112 wins.

Josh Green has clinched his third consecutive leading trainer title. Green’s stable has haltered 99 winners this meet. Tim Crissman is now a solid second with 75 wins. Dylan Davis is third with 61 wins. Joe Hundertpfund holds on to fourth place with 46 wins. Nick Callahan and Wayne Givens are tied for fifth, with 40 winners each.