by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Poppy Lustre N took no prisoners on the way to a 1:53.1 victory in the $27,500 Mares Open Pace on a cold Tuesday, Feb. 13 with freezing rain at Dover Downs, while Shake Away came from off the pace to notch a 1:54.1 win in the $24,000 Jr. Open. Tim Tetrick continued winning races in multiples with four winners, while Tony Morgan collected three.

Foto Won Photo

Poppy Lustre N held off Riddlemethat in the Mares Open.

Tetrick rolled Poppy Lustre N out of post seven and snatched the early lead in the feature and controlled the pace the rest of the way for her third win in seven 2007 starts, with two seconds and two thirds for Wayne Pryor Estate and Wendy Crissman. The Direct Flight-sired 6-year-old won over the off track by a neck. Riddlemethat, a 56-1 shot driven by Corey Callahan finished second, with race favorite I’m All In and Ron Pierce third in the field of eight distaffs.

Jim King picked up his second win of the night piloting the classy Dream Away distaff Shake Away, owned by JoAnn King and JEB Enterprises, in an overland journey 1:54.1 victory in the $24,000 Mares Jr. Open Pace. For the third consecutive week, Ain’t Goin Back with Ben Stafford, Jr. finished second. Ultimate Bet, back from the Meadowlands, finished third for Tony Morgan.

Charles Nitkowski’s All About Winning stepped out of the claimers to score a wire-to-wire 1:54.1 win in the first of two $17,500 Mares Winners Over Paces with Tim Tetrick at the controls. The win was the third in a row for the Kay Gannon-trained Albert Albert mare. Love And Lust N (Ross Wolfenden) came on to finish second. Miss MacKintush (Eddie Davis, Jr.) took show money.

Tony Morgan drove the other $17,500 division winner Flirtwithedealer into the lead on the final turn and then sped to a 1:54.2 triumph for owners Tom Ireland and Ron Killen. Sherri On Ice (Tim Tetrick) closed to finish second. Valkyrie Hanover (Art Stafford, Jr.) was the third finisher.

JM Vangogh leads seven in $27,500 Open Trot

JM Vangogh makes his first start since late December, facing six rivals in the $27,500 Open Handicap Trot on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Dover Downs. A $23,000 Jr. Open and a $17,000 Winners Over Trot are on the undercard. First post is 4:30 p.m.

Owners John Mello and trainer Paul Chambers gave JM Vangogh a short vacation following another big season in 2006 when the Earl-sired horse won $232,468, raising his career bankroll to more than $1.2 million. Tony Morgan will be in the bike after a 1:57.1 qualifying win last week.

One of two females in the lineup, Delbert Cain’s Go Sassy Go stepped up after a Jr. Open win to take last week’s $27,500 feature with George Dennis driving for her second straight and third win of the New Year. The previous two weeks it was a Mighty Moses show. The 7-year-old Garland Lobell gelding, owned by Ken and Betsy Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta, had notched consecutive and similar come from behind victories. M&M Harness Racing’s Saint Johns Boy closed to finish second for Ross Wolfenden for the second straight week and fourth time this year.

The rest of the potent field includes Wayne Pryor Estate and Wendy Crissman’s veteran Breeze Hill Will and Tim Tetrick, Horsemans Financial and Premier Racing Stable’s Rusty’s Biggie and Eddie Davis, Jr., winner of last week’s Jr. Open, and Racsan Jenny, with Steve Warrington driving the consistent mare for Don Hawk, John Hynansky and Dan Warrington.

A pair of familiar faces return to the $23,000 Jr. Open Trot. Three Point Acres’ Musclesextrodianair is back after a month at the Meadowlands with Tim Tetrick driving and Put Them On Hold, with owner, trainer and driver Toby Lynch, steps back up in class.

Nathan My Boy, owned by C.D. Hertrich, Brooks Stable and Green Racing Inc., finished second last week with Brad Hanners, in front of Kennywood, Roger Plante driving for Ken Wood and Henry King.

The other contestants are Alain Durivage’s Armbro Corbin, with Kevin Sizer steering, Parent Racing and Crystal Ball Stables’ Litigator and Tony Morgan, Pat Tortorello’s Bud Ross, with Jim Morand, and Jack Claypoole’s Admiral’s Quest, handled by Eddie Dennis.

Monday through Thursday post time at Dover Downs is 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday racing starts at 5:30 p.m. No racing on Fridays. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.