Rondel Franco N (Hal Belote) won the $22,000 Mares Open Handicap on Tuesday.

Rondel Franco N won three distaff features in November, then spent two December starts drawing badly at the Meadowlands and similarly after returning to Dover Downs. This time driver Hal Belote took no prisoners, taking the lead at the start and the eight-year-old Falcon Seelster mare did the rest, scoring an impressive win by one and a half lengths. Jett Away challenged the winner on the outside from after the half to no avail, closing out with a :27.3 final panel. Sean Bier then steered Crossfire N to the passing lane and closed quickly to overtake Jett Away (Bret Brittingham) for second place.

Dover Downs Photos

Steve Warrington steered Isn’t She Fancy to victory in the Mares Winners Over Pace.

Isn’t She Fancy has been perfect since being acquired by Amy Warrington. The four-year-old Grinfromeartoear mare took the lead after the half and won for fun in 1:53.4 for Steve Warrington in the $15,000 Mares Winners Over Pace. Scootbyal (Vic Kirby) came on late to finish second in front of early leader Sandtana Score N (Jim King).

Warrington won his second of the night piloting Bay Express N, owned by Ed Maas, Howard Paisley and trainer John Bryan, to victory in 1:53.3, taking a $12,000 distaff pace. Mrs Tricky (Jim Morand) and Tentuwin Bluegrass (Sean Bier) were second and third respectively.

J&E Stable, Al Moor, Jr. and Al Moor III’s Smokey Bear recovered from traffic trouble at the top of the lane to come on for Eddie Davis, Jr. to win the $8,000 featured trot in 1:58.4. AP English (Eddie Davis) cut out most of the early fractions and finished second. ATT Princess (Ross Wolfenden) was third.

The winningest horse at the meet, Trish Bickler’s Evere’s Connection, won for the sixth consecutive start as Brad Hanners, the meet’s leading driver, steered the five-year-old Village Connection mare to one of his two victories, in 1:56.4, to win a $12,500 mares claiming pace.

Reuben King and Mark A. King’s Belong To Me became the longshot of the New Year when Mark A. King drove the veteran trotter to a 2:00.2 victory at 53-1 odds in the day’s first race, a Delaware $7,500 claiming trot.

Quartet to tussle in top trot on Wednesday

An $11,500 Trot, two $40,000 claiming paces, and a $10,800 Delaware pace will headline the Wednesday card at Dover Downs. Post time will be 4:30 p.m.

Four of the starters in the $11,500 trot have been in top form as of late. Mountain Spring N, owned by Geraldine McClure and trainer-driver Steve Warrington, and William Moffett’s d’Amico Cucina, to be driven by Ross Wolfenden, both were impressive winners last time out, and Frances Pitts-West’s New Dawn Hanover and Max Walton’s Bullville Sue both finished second last week.

Richard Crammer and trainer-driver Bob Reeser’s So Striking appears to be returning to top form, and Kim Book’s Meadowagogo, with Hal Belote to drive, and Tyler Stillings’ Getinthephoto, with Brad Hanners named to drive, should be factors with better post positions this week. Art Stafford’s Vicki Gram, a winner of two of her last three for driver Art Stafford, Jr., will leave from the rail, and Tom Crouch’s Prank Player, to be reined Ross Wolfenden, will start from the second tier.

One of the top entrants in the first of two $40,000 claiming races, Gary Wolf’s Wynfield Bob (Jim Morand), raced gamely last week before he was beaten at the wire and finished second. Ronnie Mac A (George Dennis), owned by Crissman, Inc. and W.J. McDougall Racing, also finished second last time, and Herb Abbe N, claimed three weeks in a row, and claimed last week by Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta, has been second in two of his last three races. Dom Rafanelli’s Galactic Council N (Roger Plante) will start from post position one, and Bill Emmons’ Kilkerran Scott (Brad Hanners) will leave from the outside.

Gemini Racing’s Iced Yankee (Kevin Lare), Snyder, Balachino and Avery’s Steam The Windows (Jim Morand), Bill Emmons’ Kilkerran Scot (Brad Hanners), Wayne King’s Transit Earl A (Mike Cole), and Irwin Samelman’s Hezaumpn Bluegrass (Frank Milby) will complete the line-up.

Nick Callahan’s Life Moves On (Daryl Bier) will again step up after having won a $25,000 and then a $30,000 claiming pace, and will now race at the $40,000 level. Life Moves On drew post one, and Charles Miller’s Hezapeach (Brad Hanners) and Baldachino, Outten and Green Racing’s The Cammissioner (Jim Morand) will start alongside the former. Gary Minner and Pete Richardson’s Coopers Creek N (Steve Warrington), Roy Parker’s Maverick Seelster (Eddie Davis, Jr.), and Mark Levine and Golden Goose Enterprises’ Mr Doitforus (Dylan Davis) will lead the opposition. Rodney Mitchell’s Elijay Ed (Eddie Davis), Woody Long and trainer Bobby Glassmeyer’s Old Melodies (Kevin Sizer), and Bobby Rice’s Titanium Sakra (Hal Belote) will be the other starters.

Bob Larrimore’s Beach Believer (Joe Sullivan) has won two straight, and Love Of My Life Stable’s Sonnie’s Sonofagun (Eddie Davis, Jr.) has recorded one win and will lead a field of eight to the post in a $10,800 Delaware pace.

Dover Downs has added a Pick 4 to its wagering format, and it will be featured on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races each day, and a fifth Superfecta has been added to the track’s daily, six day a week, 15 race schedule. Superfectas will be offered on the third, fifth, ninth, 13th, and 15th races. Simulcasting from major harness and Thoroughbred tracks is featured daily, from 12:00 noon until 12:00 midnight.