by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

DOVER, DE — Rhyall Hanover won for the second straight time and Wynfield Ownings took his second in three starts in the $40,000 claiming pace twin feature races on Thursday, January 22 at Dover Downs.

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Rhyall Hanover (on the inside) holds off Bobbycrombie to win Thursday’s co-feature at Dover.

Mike Cole took Rodney Mitchell’s Rhyall Hanover three wide heading to the three-quarters and after getting the lead fought off a late charge from Bobbycrombie (Hal Belote) nearing the finish line to record a 1:55³ victory in the first $40,000 claiming division. Lavros Whirlwind N (Ross Wolfenden) finished third.

Owner Mitchell and his brother/trainer Kenny Mitchell made it a double in the next race when Kevin Sizer guided Swinging Scooter A home in 1:54¹ to win a $9,600 Delaware Pace. Tug River Jim (Eddie Davis, Jr.) finished second. The Ides Of March (Greg Grismore) was third.

Dover Downs Photo

Wynfield Owings and Steve Warrington were alone at the wire in their co-featured event at Dover.

Later in the program, Steve Warrington unleashed a 1:54 mile driving Bob Warthen’s homebred Wynfield Owings to his third win in five races to win the other $40,000 claimer. Highfield’s Boy N (Jim Morand) closed to finish second in front of Armbro Tristen (Eddie Davis, Jr.).

Lastline Hanover, owned by Woody Long and T.A. Fleetwood and overlooked at 10-1, roared down the lane to nip Kurahaupochancelor (Vic Kirby) in the final strides for a 1:55 triumph in a $10,500 four and five-year-old pace. Mackie Boy (Ross Wolfenden) took show honors.

Arty Foster’s Broderick Seelster gave Steve Warrington a second dash win, fashioning a 1:54 victory in a $25,000 Delaware claiming pace. Paper Branch (Eddie Davis) was next with Allraessingofglory (Travis Bowman) third.

Hal Belote had a driving double. He drove Mister Dale N, owned by Howard Levine and Alan Lerner, to a 1:56 win in a $12,500 claiming pace.

Ross Wolfenden also made the winner’s circle twice, piloting Joe Hunderpfund’s Sinbad Hanover to a 1:56 win in a conditioned pace and then Del Richards, Jr.’s Janoohary to his second successive win in 1:58³ in a $7,500 Delaware claiming pace.

Dover Downs Extra

The longest win streak at the track during the first half of the season came to an end on Wednesday, January 21 when Zizi’s Comet, owned by Frank Ambrose and Tony Poliseno, lost for the first time after six consecutive victories. Put Them On Hold, driven by Jim Morand, won the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot, his second Open win in a row.

The previous day (Tuesday, January 20), another streak ended for a trotter also driven by Steve Warrington. An 11-1 shot GTO, driven by Tim Curtin, beat Newark resident Greg Simendigner’s Kawarau Invasion N.

Several multiple win days last week have permitted Brad Hanners to continue in first place in the dash win standings. Hanners has won 93 races with Jim Morand second with 90 wins. Steve Warrington and Ross Wolfenden are tied for third in the standing with 68 wins each. George Dennis completes the top five with 62 winners.

Josh Green has built a comfortable lead in the trainer standings. Green has conditioned 46 winners. Defending champion Kevin Lare is second with 30 wins. Steve LeBlanc and Dan Warrington are third with 28 apiece while Chuck Crissman is fifth with 27 victories.

Again this season, trainer Dan Warrington, as in most of the last half dozen seasons, holds the highest Universal Trainer Rating (UTR) at .543. Josh Green has moved into second place with a .417 rating. Arty Foster is third with a .412 average. Kevin Sizer is next at .374. Hal Belote and Karen Crothers are tied for fifth with a .382 UTR.

Claiming horses at Dover Downs has become more fashionable and expensive this season. During the current meet, claiming is up a record 113%. Through January 21 there have been 128 horses claimed compared to 60 last season at the same time. The average price of a claimed horse is at a track all-time high $22,183, 22% higher than the average last meet of $18,115.

It was a brotherly rivalry on Tuesday, January 20 when Crown Prince Gar, with Jim Morand driving, scored a neck victory over Crown Pro and Herve Filion. The two trotters are half-brothers, being sons of the mare Crown Julia. Crown Prince Gar was sired by Garland Lobell while Crown Pro is by Program Speed.

Try Kacy N, owned by Art Brewer of Hartly, Delaware, is the oldest horse to win at the current Dover Downs meet. At age 13, the gelding still can race for this and another season. A harness horse must retire from racing at age 15. All horses observe birthdays on January 1.

There is no live racing on Fridays at Dover Downs. Saturday and Sunday racing starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30. No charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call (302) 674-4600, ext. 3773.