Dover, DE — Legacy Racing of Delaware and Reginald Hazzard II’s Tarkio ($10.80) earned his fourth consecutive win, rising to conquer six rivals in Thursday’s (Feb. 3) $27,500 Blue Hen/Open Handicap Pace at Dover Downs.

Tarkio sustained a first-over push and clung to victory in Thursday’s top pace at Dover Downs. Fotowon photo.

Last week’s winner, Bo Mach, was used from his outside post seven to clear Island Of The Sea just beyond a :26.2 first quarter. After being rated through a :31.1 second-quarter breather by Corey Callahan, Bo Mach was forced to pick up the pace on the backstretch as Allan Davis and Tarkio mounted a first-over challenge and ultimately worked into the lead past three-quarters in 1:26.2. Tarkio put away a tiring Bo Mach on the final turn and evaded a late challenge from 38-1 outsider Justasec N (Art Stafford Jr.), who lunged off live cover to miss Tarkio’s 1:54.2 clocking by three-quarters of a length. Movin’ On Up (Montrell Teague) saved third out of traffic.

Wayne Givens trains Tarkio, a 4-year-old Betting Line gelding.

Despite sloppy going, Sprocket won in 1:49.2 earlier in the card, taking a $9,000 conditioned event with Pat Berry aboard for trainer Traci Berry.

Total handle for the 13-race card exceeded $1 million.

Racing at Dover Downs continues on Monday (Feb. 7), featuring a new 50-cent minimum base wager in Pick-3, Pick-4 and Pick-5 pools. First post time is 4:30 p.m.