by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Real Protection, a 33-1 shot, and Generous GB won the Dover Downs feature races on Thursday, March 22.

The Wiz Kids Stable’s Real Protection uncoiled a 1:54 victory in the featured $13,800 Delaware Pace. Bart Dalious gunned the 33-1 shot up on the outside at the three-quarters and quick-stepped past Whitewall Hanover on the final turn and stayed there for the win. Whitewall Hanover (Tony Morgan) had to settle for second with race favorite Jet Set Hall (Tim Tetrick) the third place finisher.

In the top claiming race, Marilyn Milbrand’s Generous GB out-stepped Kirwan’s Reward N (Tim Tetrick) to the finish line in 1:53.4 to win a $20,000 Delaware male claimer for Ross Wolfenden. Yankee Skyfire (Tim Curtin) finished third.

$14,000 paces, $20,000 claimer on Saturday; $20,000 DSBF prelims on Sunday

Live racing returns following the weekly Friday break with a pair of $14,000 male paces and a $20,000 claiming pace on Saturday, March 24 and five $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund first round preliminaries and two $20,000 Delaware Paces on Sunday at Dover Downs. First post is 5:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Cyclone Cully N (Steve Warrington) makes his North American debut, facing Mark Akins and Lorenzo DeSimone’s JK Bettor Be Good (Tim Tetrick) and Foulk Stables’ Jennaration (Corey Callahan) in the first $14,000 male pace.

In the second division, Jay Shore’s Flat Out Lucky and Jim Morand and Jim Kinnamon’s Driven By You, handled by Corey Callahan, were both winners last week.

The $20,000 male claiming pace is wide open. Melissa Olsen’s Apache Of Grey (Kim Vincent) won last time while Melissa Cabot’s Original Sam (Tim Tetrick), Ed Hall’s Juarez (Roget Plante), and Richard Zulick’s In Hot Pursuit HR (Tony Morgan) all were second last week.

On Sunday, Joe and JoAnn Thomson’s DSBF 2-year-old filly pace champ Free Admission (Steve Warrington) and Roam’n At Cooly’s Stables’ Love And Truth (Tim Tetrick) lead one of the $20,000 filly divisions. The other, a non-wagering event, features Double Flip, owned by John and Earl Wagner and Winbak Farm, and entrymate On Stage Sizzle owned by driver Ben Stafford, Jr. and Winbak Farm. They look hard to beat.

There are three DSBF colt pace prelims. GTY Stable’s Be Bad Bill (Ross Wolfenden) and Carl Cocciolone and Bernie Horabik’s Andiamo Subito (Brad Hanners) look tough in their $20,000 3-year-old colt section. Trevor Warwick and Peter George’s freshman champion Mr Aviator (Kevin Sizer), King, Silletto, Burgaretta and Benedetti’s Mountain Air (Herve Filion), and Heckler and the Stafford’s Sun Power (Ben Stafford, Jr.) head the second set. John Celii’s Jesse N Echo (Tony Morgan) is the one to beat in the third $20,000 prelim.

In the first of two $20,000 Delaware Paces on the overnight card, Bob Messick’s recent acquisition Menno Boy (Jim Morand) and Foulk Stables’ Diamonds Revenge (Corey Callahan) both won last time, and take on Wardog Hall (Tim Curtin), owned by Bonnie Cane and Tim Fisher, Terry McClements’ Bettor Watch Him (Brandon Givens), and Arty Foster, Jr.’s Village Blitz (Tony Morgan).

The other $20,000 Delaware Pace is led by Bill and Karen Haggerty’s Iza Miraculous Guy (Roger Plante) and Ricky Pryor and Wendy Crissman’s Gold Rocket A (Tim Tetrick).

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