by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Ideal Cowboy took the lead early and never relinquished it on the way to a 1:51 victory in the $30,000 Preferred Pace, while Little Ben won for the fourth time in his last five starts in the $27,500 Delaware Special at Dover Downs on Thursday (Dec. 8).
FotoWon photo
Ideal Cowboy collects his second win in three weeks at Dover Downs on Thursday night.
After finishing second by a neck last week, Tim Tetrick did not linger putting Ideal Cowboy onto the lead and cutting out all the fractions while posting his seventh win of the year for trainer Jeff Bamon and owners J&T Silva and Bamond Racing. The win was the second in three weeks for the American Ideal-Trend Setter gelding who has been first, second and third in half of his 25 starts this season while earning $141,640 in purses.
Bettor’s Edge and Yannick Gingras finished second in front of Sweet Beach driven by Montrell Teague. Dancin Yankee (Corey Callahan) was fourth.
Janet Hudson and JoAnn Looney-King’s Little Ben was back in the winner’s circle for the 10th time in 2016 after Vic Kirby piloted a 1:51.3 success in the $27,500 Delaware Special. An altered son of Jereme’s Jet-Honey’s Bud Life, Little Ben has now won $152,064 this year. Seventh Secret, a recent acquisition by George Dennis, closed strongly to finish second beaten a head. Im Supersonic A (Tetrick) was the show finisher.
For the second consecutive Thursday, 11-1 Soto, again a longshot, won the $18,000 4-and 5-Year-Old Open Pace with Art Stafford Jr. in the bike.
Last week, it was a wire-to-wire win, this he came from off the pace to beat Wakizashi Hanover (Tetrick) by closing along the passing lane to the wire in 1:52. Rock N Roll World (Gingras) was the third-place finisher. Soto, a son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Incredible Beauty, recorded his 11th win of the campaign. Eric Ell trains the 4-year-old for Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta.
He has now won $121,745 this year.
Yannick Gingras drove three winners. Tim Tetrick, Ross Wolfenden, Vic Kirby, Tony Morgan and trainers Jeff Bamond, Ron Burke and owners Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing had doubles.
Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.