from Harness Publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (Dec. 30) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Balmoral Park.

Ima Spur, another 10-1 shot, wins $26,000 Trot

Dover, DE — Odds of 10-1 came through again, for the third time in four race days, in the feature race at Dover Downs. This time it was Ima Spur, in his first start at the track, in the $26,000 Open Trot on Wednesday.

Fotowon photo

Ima Spur posted his ninth win of the year in the Wednesday feature at Dover.

Tom Ceraso claimed Ima Spur in early December after a win at the Meadows. In his first local start, Tony Morgan drove the Pegasus Spur-Fly Til Dawn gelding to his ninth win of the year and brought his seasonal earnings into six figures with $106,122. Jeter Marvel finished a strong second for Daryl Bier with I Know Magic and Eric Goodell taking show money.

Earlier, in the $15,000 sub-featured trot, Corey Callahan raced Arty Foster’s Spunky Vic second behind classy veteran JM Vangogh (Ron Pierce) from the start until near the finish line where the Valley Victor-B Cor Spunky gelding stuck his head in front after a long battle down the lane. Definer (Eric Goodell) was a well-placed third throughout the mile.

Joyce Keeler’s Bud became the third horse this meet to register five wins when Tony Morgan steered the Matt’s Scooter-Sody’s Memory gelding to the last win of his 5-year-old season. Solano (Ron Pierce) led until the closing strides and finished second with Village Blast (Eric Goodell) third.

Three drivers, Ron Pierce with five, Corey Callahan with four and Tony Morgan with a double, dominated the program.

Dover Downs will not race on Thursday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, and Friday is always a dark day for live racing. Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday post is 4:30 p.m.

— Marv Bachrad

Dee Dee Sage takes Incredible Finale Series Final

Crete, IL — After three very competitive rounds of preliminary action a field of 10 2- and 3-year-old Illinois conceived and foaled pacing fillies were sent postward in Wednesday’s $7,000 Incredible Finale Series Final. After posting back-to-back wins and then skipping last week’s action Eligio Boccia’s Dee Dee Sage finished out the series in perfect fashion as she scored by a hard fought neck in 1:56.4.

Balmoral Park photo

Dee Dee Sage (#4) held off the late charge of Kennans Ethel (#6) to win Wednesday’s Incredible Finale Series by a neck.

Confidently handled by driver Del Chupp the daughter of Sagebrush-Dee Dee The Clown came away fifth as longshot Ascot Courage and Fox Valley Katrina battled for early control through splits of :28.3 and :57.1.

Moving up first over as the field headed around the turn Chupp and Dee Dee Sage had moved up to third, just two lengths behind the pacesetting Fox Valley Katrina as the field moved by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:27.

Through the lane a determined Dee Dee Sage quickly swept by the early leaders as she braced for an upcoming challenge from Kennans Ethel (Mike Oosting) who had followed her cover to the top of the lane.

Showing once again that she’s been blessed with the same type of toughness that her sire showed week in and week out Dee Dee Sage repelled the challenge of Kennans Ethel, finally drawing clear in the final strides to pick up her fourth win in 18 lifetime starts. Kennans Ethel was forced to settle for the bridesmaid role while Reilly’s Daughter (Marcus Miller) shook loose late along the inside and rallied to be third.

Sent off as a slight favorite in the wide-open race Dee Dee Sage returned $6.60, $4.60 and $3.40 while pushing her lifetime earnings over the $15,000 mark.

— Tom Kelley