by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — A mammoth Monday (April 9) program at Dover Downs is headed by two $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) finals, three $85,000 and two $60,000 Classic Series preliminaries, plus an outstanding undercard. Daily post time for the rest of the current meet is now 5:30 p.m.

A pair of Delaware-owned pacers and a familiar figure in the track’s winner’s circle this meet take on seven standout senior division rivals as a 10-horse field battles it out in the first $85,000 leg of the Pacing Classic. Gary and Barbara Iles’ homebred Lather Machine and Tim Tetrick raced impressively, prompting the pace on the outside and finishing third, beaten only by a quarter length in a 1:49 world record last Monday. Bob Messick’s Roddy’s Bags Again, with Jim Morand driving, is back after a leg of the Levy Series, finishing a close fourth in his last start. Martin Scharf’s Fake Denario N returns to the scene of his best success this season, where he won four consecutive Preferred Paces, and will be driven by Ron Pierce.

The other power in the Pacing Classic is two-time defending champion Boulder Creek and Daniel Dube, an $85,000 prelim and $250,000 final winner last November at Dover Downs. The top field includes Joe Alborano’s early season 2006 standout Artistic Fella and Cat Manzi, 3 Brothers Stables’ JK Cu Later, who already has seven wins in nine races this year, Marvin Rounick’s Perfect Union with David Miller, a 4-year-old half-brother to sensational mare Glowing Report, Ben Wallace and Jim Miller’s Ontario-standout Zooka with George Brennan, and the other half of the Martin Scharf-owned entry, All Over The Place, piloted by Brad Hanners.

Another locally owned horse, Poppy Lustre N, owned by Ricky Pryor and Wendy Crissman, drew the rail in the $85,000 Classic Distaff, with Tim Tetrick handling the reins. Cuzzin’s Stables’ Burning Point, a $2.7 million winner with George Brennan, has never finished farther back than second in a number of starts at the track and comes from post two. Last fall, Marnie Hall, owned by Jean Claude Dessareault and Daniel Plouffe, set a world record for a 1-1/4 mile race and will be driven by Daniel Dube. It was one of two Classic Finals won by trainer Mark Silva, with Boulder Creek the other. Richard Annunziata’s Miss Galvinator A with Yannick Gingras and Ed Mullinax’s Up Front Jan-E-Lu and Tony Morgan have each won five times already this year. Mike Shunock’s To Helen Back, with John Campbell, completes the line-up.

Vivid Photo, owned by Todd Schadel and trainer-driver Roger Hammer, winner of the $250,000 Trotting Classic last November, is the one to beat in the $85,000 prelim. Elvis Cole, supplemented to the race by Nick and Parker Callahan, starts alongside with Corey Callahan at the helm. Tony Morgan will drive Paul Chambers and John Mello’s JM Vangogh, a $1.2 million winner, while John Campbell will get up behind Hez Striking for owners Bart Glass and Bob Kauffman. Delaware-bred Med Vac, racing for Adam Victor & Son, will be driven by Yannick Gingras. Man About Town, owned by Tony Poliseno, makes his first start of the year with Brian Sears at the controls.

There are two $60,000 divisions of the Classic Oaks. Alvin Jacobson and Sid Korn’s Mystical Sunshine, with Ron Pierce, drew the rail, with 10-time winner last year, Buck I St. Pat and regular driver Dave Palone, racing for Howard Taylor, Ed Gold, Richard Fuller and Abe Basen, in post two. Barnett Zimmerman’s Tady Strikes Again and Brian Sears, Ed Mullinax and Frank Dettore’s Up Front Hotsey with John Campbell, and Torkil Pedersen’s Birminghim, Trevor Ritchie driving, are the upset minded contenders.

The other $60,000 Classic Oaks division is led by three mares who are racing well this season. Spare Time Rozie, a big-time winner already this year, will be driven by Tony Morgan for owners John Cowan and Darryl Laver. P Kleinhans Racing’s Lavec Dream was strong in last fall’s Classic Oaks Final for George Brennan, while Go Sassy Go, owned and bred by Delbert Cain, won a $27,500 Mares Open in her last start for George Dennis. Dan and Steve Ackerknecht’s Ackbro Ms Perfect, a major force in last season’s New York Sire Stakes, has the services of Ron Pierce. White Creek Stable’s Three Little Words, Sherri Meirs and Trillium Racing’s Freeze Frame and Bill Jones and L&L DeVisser’s Susie’s Magic round out the field.

Joe and JoAnn Thomson’s Free Admission, Winbak Farm and John and Earl Wagner’s Double Flip, with Tony Morgan, and On Stage Sizzle, owned by Winbak Farm and driver Ben Stafford, Jr. are a powerpacked entry of fillies in the spotlight of the first $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Final, this one for 3-year-old filly pacers.

The $110,000 DSBF 3-year-old colt and gelding pace final is led by freshman champion Mr Aviator, owned by Trevor Warwick and Peter George, with Kevin Sizer driving, GTY Stable’s Be Bad Bill, piloted by Ross Wolfenden, and Chang Racing Dynasty’s Skeleton Key, with Brian Sears driving. There is also a $20,000 DSBF consolation pace.

The traditionally strong regular program is led by a $35,000 Delaware Special with last week’s winner Beware Beret, owned by Mike Zimmerman and John and Erika Paradee, starting from the outside in a field of seven.

Three winners last week collide in the $27,500 Open, Tom Kelly’s Print It and Ron Pierce, Brian Sears and GRJ Partners’ Life Is A Cabaret, and Harry Von Knoblauch with David Miller.

The current Dover Downs live racing meet ends this Thursday, April 12. Daily post time is 5:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.