Dover Downs Photo

Pedone set a track record in the Sunday feature at Dover.

Pedone, claimed twice in consecutive starts early this year, ripped out of third on the backstretch and zipped past the leader Toy Dragon at the three-quarters, pulling quickly away for a four leangth lead on the final turn and then coasted to a track record for his age, gender and gait, reaching the finish line in 1:50.1 to destroy the former track record set by Clinton Debriefed and equaled last Monday by Driven To Win.

Fred and Anita Fialkow claimed the well bred Pedone, a son of Western Hanover from the Artsplace matron Pedoozle, from a race in which Pedone won by six and a half lengths, but was disqualified and placed second. Since then Pedone, trained by meet leader Kevin Lare and driven by Jim Morand, has won each of his next four starts by convincing margins.

Toy Dragon, the only mare in the seven horse lineup, cut the early fractions for Steve Warrington and held on to finish second, with Marchand and Brad Hanners closing for third money.

Wayne Truitt piloted Marcia Murray’s J D’s Dragon to a 1:52.1 victory in a $12,500 Delaware pace. Lu Lu’s Pocket (Brad Hanners) was next. Jimmy And Me (Jim King) took third.

Johnny Waite’s And Whos Next, driven by Kevin Sizer, overtook leader Hannas Boy coming off the final turn to score a 1:55.1 triumph in a $17,500 Delaware claiming pace. Hannas Boy (Vic Kirby) was second with Prince Of Flight (Brad Hanners) third.

Nuclear Man, owned by Adam Weber, Warren Racing Stable and trainer-driver Billy Mann, could not be caught in a 1:54.4 win in a $15,000 Delaware claiming pace. After This Dance (Daryl Bier) was runner-up, while Work Out (Roger Plante) was third.

Wendy Crissman’s Prodigious A, the race favorite, closed late in the stretch along the passing lane to overtake Grand Affair (Hal Belote) at the wire for a 1:53.2 score in a second $15,000 Delaware claiming pace. Amcam (George Dennis) was third.

Peggy Martin’s Vital Flyte set a Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) record of 1:53.4 for a three-year-old filly pacer in the first of three distaff second leg prelims. Kevin Sizer drove Vital Flyte to her third win in a row and fifth in nine starts this year. Barb L Shop (Brad Hanners) finished second in front of Badlandsue And Me (Jim King).

Badlands Honey found room to get out of third at the three-quarter mark and Jim Morand sent her zooming past front-pacing Badlands Lady before reaching the last turn. There was no caching the John Celii-owned filly from there as she posted a 1:54.1 win, the fifth victory of the day for Morand.

William Moffett’s Front Tier Power made it two straight, winning her division in 1:55.3 with Jim Morand driving. Buckleup Baby (Brad Hanners) was a close second. Sailongtong (Eddie Davis, Jr.) was the third finisher.

In DSBF colt contests, LDK Standardbreds’ Valerin K was never headed in a 1:53.1 victory, his second straight in prelims. It was an easy win for driver Jim Morand. Hot Lather (Brad Hanners) and Windsmith Buddy (Vic Kirby) were second and third respectively.

Whata Buster, owned by Scott West and Dean LeClair, with Travis Bowman at the controls, followed pacesetting Bad Hombre (Brad Hanners) until mid-stretch in a :27 closing quarter before pulling out and overtaking the leader at the wire in 1:54.4. The Romester (Eddie Davis, Jr.) was the show horse. Oozie’s Bad Boy was scratched.

Wireless Hanover, a recent purchase by Dan and Tom Courtemanche, was strongest in the stretch for Tim Curtin on the way to a 1:55 win. Kitty’s Paddy (Dale Elliott) edged Fergus (Brand Hanners) for place honors.