by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Sweet Bobbie stepped up to the $25,000 Mares Open and repeated last week’s 7-1 victory while Seboomook Copper and Lotsa Luck won the DSBF colt and filly pace consolations on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Dover Downs.
Overlooked after last Wednesday’s seven-length 1:52.1 win, the 5-year-old Art Major-Odds On Gobye mare owned by trainer Gary Ewing came on strong in the lane for Art Stafford Jr. to notch a 1:51.1 triumph in the week’s top female event. The win was the third of four for hot-driver Stafford putting him in a tie for second-place in the driver standings with Corey Callahan at 27.Tim Tetrick leads with 36.
Keystone Riptime, a 40-1 longshot piloted by Ross Wolfenden, stormed home to finish second for a $306.80 exacta while Purrfect Bags and Montrell Teague, third, commanded a $3,389.40 trifecta.
Garnet O’Marrow’s homebred Seboomook Copper, an altered son of Gamblers Dream-Seboomook Mao, held off favorite Fulla Nitro (Jonathan Roberts) for a 1:56.2 victory in the first $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) consolation. Trend Spin (Russell Foster) was third.
Art Stafford’s first win of a big day came directing Lotsa Luck to a 1:57 win in the second $20,000 DSBF consolation, this one in the freshman filly pace. Kissthatonegoodbye (Callahan) was runner-up with Diabolical Spin (Foster) the show horse.
In addition to Art Stafford Jr.’s four-bagger, owner-trainer Josh Parker had a double.
Thursday is the biggest day in 2017 Delaware harness racing. Both millionaires, Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon, the two highest-rated pacers in this year’s Hambletonian Society-Breeders Crown weekly poll, meet among eight starters in Dover Downs’ signature event, the $308,060 Hap Hansen Progress Pace. On the same outstanding program of 13-races are four $100,000 DSBF finals and a $25,000 Open pace heads the undercard.
Post time is 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The daily program features a 50 cent Pick-5 (races 2-6) and a late daily double ( races 12 and 13).
General parking and admission are free. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant’s acclaimed Buffet and for the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.Top harness and thoroughbred races are featured in the Racing and Sports Book daily for 12 Noon until 12 Midnight.