Dover, DE – Muskateer Hanover wired the field and won the $28,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday night (Nov. 20).
Muskateer Hanover, the 7-5 favorite, sprinted to an early lead, reaching the opening quarter in a blistering :25.3. He roared to the half in :53.4, a :28.1 quarter.
Master Rigger raced first-up in pursuit of pacesetter Muskateer Hanover up the backstretch. Itsrockandroll A, who won back to back races in this class, followed second-over and Steve’s Saloon was in flight third-over while Wehadababyetzaboy remained confident in the pocket.
Muskateer Hanover hit his best stride reaching the three-quarters in 1:21.1, a :27.2 quarter, on his way to victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50. He paid $4.80 for the win.
Wehadababyetzaboy finished second and Itsrockandroll A was third.
Muskateer Hanover (Sweet Lou) is owned by Mulligan Stables and Calcutta Stables LLC. Jason Johnson trained and Allan Davis drove.
Jason Bartlett drove four winners on the betting card, including Dandy Ideal in his elimination of the Progress Pace.
There will be a pentafecta carryover worth $1,101 on Monday. The card will feature the $110,000 DSBF final for 2-year-old fillies on the trot. The race is named in honor of the late Marv Bachrad, who served as publicity director at Bally’s Dover and is a member of harness racing’s Communicators Hall of Fame.
The $274,720 Progress Pace final for 3-year-old male pacers will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Bally’s Dover will be dark on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 27.
Bally’s Dover races Monday through Thursday with a first-race post at 4:30 p.m. (EST).