by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Little Brown Jug winner Limelight Beach won a $30,000 featured contest on Thursday (March 16) at Dover Downs. Blazing Bobby Sox pulled away in the stretch in the $27,500 Delaware Special to win the supporting event on the card.
Fotowon photo
Limelight Beach returns to familiar territory after a victory in the featured event at Dover Downs on Thursday.
Yannick Gingras left in a hurry from post eight to get the early lead and then sat second behind the sharp Major Uptrend until the homestretch. That is when the Somebeachsomewhere-Benear gelding used the passing lane to just get up in 1:52.1 by a long nose.
Major Uptrend (Montrell Teague) was second ending a three-straight win streak, while Jet Airway (Corey Callahan) took third money.
Ron Burke, the sports leading trainer during the last decade, conditions Limelight Beach, who won for the second time this year and 21st lifetime, which increased his total earnings to $1,270,279.
One race later, Blazing Bobby Sox showcased his usually powerful closing brush to overpower six rivals in the $27,500 Delaware Special Handicap. With Sweet Rock (Allan Davis) cutting out the pace, Art Stafford Jr. moved Blazing Bobby Sox up on the outside at the three-quarters. The duo then sped into the lead reaching the final turn and were all alone in the lane for a 1:52 triumph.
Stafford and his dad own The Panderosa-Liamatters gelding, who won his fourth of the season and 18th lifetime; he is now a $199,478 career winner. Sweet Rock was second with Poisonous (Ross Wolfenden) closing fast for third.
Star Messenger scored his fourth win of 2017 with Tony Morgan driving a 1:52.1 victory in one of two $15,500 Male paces. Claimed early this meet, Star Messenger lifted his seasonal earning to $35,250 for owner-trainer Gary Ewing. Star Messenger, a Jereme’s Jet-Manhattan Killean gelding, has now posted 22 lifetime wins and $171,146 in purse monies.
A 42-1 hot Framed Art (Stafford Jr.) rolled down the stretch to finish second. Quick Shot (Jonathan Roberts) was third.
The second $15,500 division went to Richard Stansbury’s All The Cookies and Gingras in an impressive 1:52.3 performance. The Rocknroll Hanover-Queen Otra 4-year-old gelding won his second straight and third in his last four outings for trainer Kenny Mitchell.
Tip It On Back (Bret Brittingham) came on strongly to finish second. Denslow Hanover (Davis) was the show horse.
Gingras and Time Out I’m Tired came out of the pack nearing the finish line for a 1:53.2 victory in the third $15,500 event.
Chris White conditions the Artiscape-Badlands Laura 5-year-old for Bill Mears and Janine McIlvain.
Wichita Lineman (Davis) and Black Is Back (Callahan) were second and third respectively.
Callahan and Gingras each tasted victory four times, Tony Morgan, Art Stafford Jr. and trainer Dylan Davis had two wins each.