by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Mildred Ventriglio’s Major Uptrend rebounded after missing by a nose last week to win the $30,000 Preferred Handicap while Blazing Bobby Sox made it two in-a-row winning the $27,500 Delaware Special. These two events were the highlight on the Dover Downs big Thursday (March 23) card.

Major Uptrend recorded his fourth victory in his last five starts with red hot driver Tony Morgan in the feature. The Somebeachsomewhere-Tricky Tooshie gelding, conditioned by Doug Lewis, held off a late charge by Bushwacker (Montrell Teague) to post a 1:49.4 triumph, his sixth of the year and 29th lifetime; advancing his total earnings to $313,833.

Bad Gamer (Yannick Gingras) was the show finisher. Limelight Beach (Ross Wolfenden) did not leave and followed retreating cover on the backstretch and finished out-of-the-money. Rockeyed Optimist was scratched.

In the $27,500 Delaware Special, race favorite Emeritus Maximus left but was backed up to fourth coming out of the gate. Yannick Gingras came out with him and took the lead after the quarter-mile. The consistent pacer led until Blazing Bobby Sox following cover pulled three-wide turning for home and sped past enroute to a 1:50.3 success. It was his fifth this year and 19th lifetime.

The Panderosa-Liamatters gelding build his seasonal earnings to $74,107 and $213,228 in his career. Captive Audience (Corey Callahan) closed well to finish second in front of Emeritus Maximus, who sustained his first loss since a second last month. He has won seven times in 2017.

On the strong undercard All The Cookie closed along the passing lane to nip Tip It On Back (Bret Brittingham) in a 1:50.4 photo to win the Ted Black 25 Years Kent News Racing Reporter $15,500 male pace for young horses. Richard Stansbury owns the Rocknroll Hanover-Queen Otra gelding trained by Kenny Mitchell. The horse is a four-time winner this year. Velocity Stifler (Tim Tetrick) finished third.

David Miller’s Fashion Bythebeach won for the first time this year with trainer/driver Vince Copeland directing a 1:52 effort. The Somebeachsomewhere gelding won a $15,000 4-and 5-year-old male pacing contest. Somewhereonthebeach (Gingras) was a close runner-up. Suchasenseofhumor (Jim Morand) picked up show money.

Cloud Speed, an altered son of Dragon Again-Cams Exotic, got up for driver Vic Kirby and owners trainer Ben Stafford and Bill Daggett in 1:52 to win a $15,000 male pacing event, for his fifth victory this year. Rangers Sureshot (Tim Tetrick) in his first start after being claimed for $30,000, led until deep stretch and finished second. Forty Five Red (George Dennis) was third.

In addition to Tony Morgan’s two wins giving his 10 in the last three days, George Dennis, Bret Brittingham and trainer Don Brittingham, Montrell Teague, trainer Clyde Francis and owner George Teague also had doubles.