by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — It was not a good day for favorites on the biggest program of the season at Dover Downs on Monday, April 6. Frog Juice, Martha Maxine, Swan Image, Falls For You and Summertime Yankee won Classic Series openers while Mr Wiggles and Little Bit Tricky took $100,000 DSBF Finals before the biggest crowd of the season.

Following morning showers, the skies cleared for the top race program of the year with none of the pre-race favorites making the winner’s circle.

Frog Juice scored in 1:50.1 for Jim Morand in the Pacing Classic.

In an $85,000 Pacing Classic upset, Jim Morand moved Frog Juice, off at 7-1, on the backstretch after Winbak Speed and Ron Pierce had finally cleared the David Miller-driven Riggins after a torrid early head-to-head duel. Frog Juice, a Badlands Hanover-Hair She Goes 4-year-old gelding bred and owned by Gary and Barbara Iles, quickly zoomed past Winbak Speed and opened up a two length lead on the far turn on the way to a 1:50.1 victory, his second this year in five starts. Winbak Speed held on for second in front of Western Shore, driven by Andy Miller.

Martha Maxine went right to the front for Andy Miller and turned back four rivals en route to a 1:51 triumph in the $85,000 Classic Distaff. Owned by Tony Alagna, Brittany Farms and Ervin Miller Stable, the Park Place-Another Agenda 5-year-old continues to get better with age. Martha Maxine won for the fourth time this season in seven outings. Race favorite Darlin’s Delight, handled by Yannick Gingras, was second in front of Southwind Tempo, reined by Tim Tetrick. Michelle’s Power was scratched.

Fotowon photos

Swan Image was a surprise 1:54.4 winner in the Trotting Classic.

David Miller won the first of his driving double, guiding Larry Roman’s Swan Image home in 1:54.4 to pull a 7-1 surprise in the $85,000 Trotting Classic. The 6-year-old Balanced Image-Swan Lake horse swept from last at the top of the lane to his second victory of the year in his fourth start. Four Starz Speed finished second with Dave Palone in the bike. Green Day and George Brennan were third.

Enough Talk took the lead at the start with Hall of Fame driver Ron Pierce and led until the select field of world class trotters turned for home. The entire field converged in a wave coming down the stretch when Miller drove Swan Image on the far outside and rolled past his rivals. Enough Talk broke stride approaching the finish and was out of the money.

Race favorite Falls For You had no trouble winning the first of two $60,000 Classic Oaks divisions. Brian Sears drove the 5-year-old trotting mare to her first win of the season in only her second start. The Yankee Glide-Armbro Niagra 5-year-old reached the finish line in 1:55.1. Stage Show (George Brennan), the 2008 Matron Stakes winner, finished second with Afternoon Dreams (Dave Palone) the third place finisher.

In the second $60,000 Classic Oaks division, Summertime Yankee turned in the biggest longshot victory when George Brennan drove the Tyler Raymer and Trillium Racing Stable’s 5-year-old S J’s Photo-Summa Hanover mare to a 1:55.1 stunner. Spice Queen with Brian Sears finished a close second while the prohibitive favorite Buck I St Pat driven by Tim Tetrick, came up short in her first start of the year, finishing third.

DSBF $100,000 Finals

Mr Wiggles was a 6-1 surprise winner of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $100,000 3-Year-Old Colt Final when Corey Callahan drove the Badlands Hanover colt past public choice Ray’s Big Bubba, driven by Ross Wolfenden, for a 1:52 victory. The win was the second in three races this year and seventh in 11 lifetime starts for Mr Wiggles, owned by Elmer Fannin and George Teague, Jr. Inc. A second place finish snapped a three-race win streak for Ray’s Big Bubba. Al Ibad Spider and Eric Goodell took third money.

Eric Goodell drove Little Bit Tricky to a 1:54.2 photo finish victory in the $100,000 DSBF soph filly pace, edging Honey and George Dennis and pacesetting Rusty’s Joy, who led from the start for Eddie Davis, Jr. Josh Green trained the Badlands Hanover filly to her second win this season and sixth in 11 career races for Jim and Bill Outten and Green Racing Inc.