by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Bushwacker won the $30,000 feature in 1:49.3 and Remember Me VK follows with 1:49.4 victory on the fastest card of the New Year at Dover Downs on Thursday (Jan. 19.) Yannick Gingras also captured five races on the evening card.

Fotowon photo

Bushwacker captures his second win from three trips to the gate in 2017 at Dover Downs on Thursday evening.

Stepping up to the $30,000 Preferred after winning last week’s $20,000 Open Pace, Bushwacker left fast from post position eight, after Seventh Secret took over for George Dennis, who fought off several attacks on the outside. A strong group attacked nearing the finish line with Corey Callahan urging Henderson Farms’ Bushwacker along the passing lane to just get up by a long nose in 1:49.3. Sweet Rock (Allan Davis) closed strongly to finish second with Secret Seven holding on for third in the tight finish.

Bushwacker, an altered son of Rocknroll Hanover-Dolphins Can Talk, traind by Chris Ryder, who got off to a great start last season at Dover, won for the second time in three 2017 starts and 25th lifetime victory extended his career bankroll to $564,337.

The next fastest clocking came when Montrell Teague drove the Delaware-sired Remember Me VK owned by Sharon Wyatt and breeders Robin Kay West and Ron Benton. Trained by Bob Wyatt, the horse took the lead and never looked back for a 1:49.4 open-length success in a $12,000 Male Pace. It was the 16th lifetime win for the Art Director-All Memory gelding. Acting Out (Jonathan Roberts) was runner-up. All Week (Ross Wolfenden) was the show finisher.

In the $21,000 “Irish Society of Delmarva Open Pace,” Jet Airway won for the second straight time with Corey Callahan at the controls. The Jerome’s Jet-Aromatic 6-year-old is owned by Mike Casalino and trainer Dylan Davis. Te Kawau N (Daryl Bier) and Sicily (A.Davis) were second and third respectively.