Dover, DE – Square Deal won wire to wire competing in the $25,000 Mares Open Handicap pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday (Feb. 11) night. Driver Tony Morgan and Square Deal’s strategy in their recent starts were to leave quickly then save ground along the pylons, but not Tonight. Driver Tony Morgan decided to take a down the road approach and it worked.
Factory Girl and Square Deal left fastest off the wings of the starting gate. Square Deal wanted the lead and got it however at the cost of being parked out to the opening quarter in :26.4. Factory Girl, the even odds betting favorite, respectfully chose to take a seat and watch all the action from the pocket.
For Square Deal the lights were flashing and the horns were blowing as she sped to the half in :55, a :28.1 quarter.
Midway up the backstretch straight away, Ballast and driver Corey Callahan chose a coverless first-over rush. Racin Hungry gladly accepted a second-over tow. Square Deal continued on the engine and whistled to the three quarters in 1:23 a :28.1 quarter.
At the top of the stretch, Ballast could not gain any ground parked out and started to fade. Racin Hungry was forced to circle three wide. Factory Girl waited for clearance late in the lane but was unable to gain any ground. Square Deal would not be denied as she won by three-quarters of a length, pacing her mile in 1:52. She returned $6.60 to her backers.
Factory Girl finished second and Jett Propelled saved ground along the pylons to finish third. Will Reynolds trained and Tony Morgan drove Square Deal ( Heston Blue Chip ) is owned by Mark Howard of Federalsburg, Maryland. Let It Ride Stables Inc are the breeders.
There will be a superfecta carryover worth $1,478 and a Pick-4 carry over worth $1,085 to Thursday night’s betting card.
The feature race on Thursday night’s betting card will be the 10th race $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace. Downers Delight gambles with his two-race win streak on the line. It won’t be easy as he tackles eleven-year-old war horse Itsrockandroll A and nemesis Muskateer Hanover.
Bally’s Dover races Monday thru Thursday. Post time is 4:30 p.m.