by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Iwannabesedated, the sixth win of a seven win night for Tim Tetrick, came when he drove the gelding to a second straight victory in the $30,000 claiming feature on a longshot filled card at Dover Downs on Thursday, March 15.

Tetrick’s seven wins is the second time this meet he has done so. Earlier this meet he tied the track record of eight wins, which he shares with Luc Ouellette, Brad Hanners and Tony Morgan.

Foto Won Photo

Iwannabesedated was a 1:53.3 winner for Tim Tetrick.

Iwannabesedated, winless in 2006, made the winner’s circle for the third time this year, with Tetrick piloting the Real Artist gelding to an overpowering 1:53.3 victory in a $30,000 claiming allowance. Anthony’s Bliss (Tony Morgan) finished second. Activator (Brad Hanners) picked up third money.

Rodney Mitchell and Green Racing’s Blowout Hanover, with Brad Hanners at the controls, posted a 1:53.1 win in a $25,000 claiming pace. It was the first of two training wins for Josh Green, who now trails Chuck Crissman, the leader, by only two victories. Joey Bravo (Tim Curtin) finished second in front of Brookfieldpoketime (Ross Wolfenden).

Home Run Hudson dropped a notch in price to record a 1:53.4 victory in a $25,000 claiming pace with Tim Tetrick steering the winner for owner Bill Emmons. Cobbler Hanover (Ross Wlofenden) and TSM Scar Face (Tim Curtin) were second and third, respectively.

3-year-olds prepping for the upcoming DSBF stakes led off the program. Twilight Mist, one of the top sophomore fillies, romped to an easy 2:01.4 win for Jim Thompson and Mist Stable. Longshot Macey’s In Command (Bobby Myers) was second with Big Deal (Steve Warrington) third.

$14,300 Delaware Pace on Saturday; two $20,000 Delaware Paces on Sunday

Live Dover Downs racing resumes after the weekly Friday break on Saturday, March 17, with a $14,300 Delaware Pace, then on Sunday, two $20,000 Delaware Paces headline the 15-race program. First post is at 5:30 p.m. on weekends.

Nine start in the $14,300 Delaware male pace with Be Bad Bill making his first local start after racing at the Meadowlands. Ross Wolfenden will drive the Badlands Hanover gelding, owned by GTY Stable, one of the favorites in the upcoming Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund stakes next Sunday.

Ken Dawson’s Take The Lead with Tony Morgan; Im A Foolman Too, owned by Carol and driver Jack Parker, Jr.; Gary and Barbara Iles’ Who’s Next, piloted by Tim Tetrick; and Foulk Stables’ Jennaration and Corey Callahan are the leading contenders.

Arty Foster, Jr.’s Mr Touring with Tony Morgan is the lone winning starter last time of nine going to post in the $20,000 male claiming pace. Brad Hanners drives Cacamese, Gallagher, Friedland and LeBlanc Racing’s Swingingwithashark from the rail. Three Point Acres’ Marcus Mainbrace A leaves from post nine in the second tier with Brandon Givens and is dropping down in class.

Golfman, owned by Rodney Long and Tim Hunterpfund, with Ross Wolfenden; JoAnn King’s Magic Force and Jim King; and Dean Esham’s Master In Motion, reined by Jim Morand, head the opposition.

On Sunday, three winners last time, Rodney Mitchell’s Up Front Jerry with Brad Hanners, Cantwell Bridge Stable’s Lekrem Bluegrass driven by Tim Tetrick, and Jeff Bartels’ Yogi Bare and Tim Curtin, start from posts 6, 7 and 8, respectively, in the first $20,000 Delaware Pace.

Bonnie Cane and Tim Fisher’s Wardog Hall won two starts back with Ross Wolfenden. The other contenders are Arty Foster, Jr.’s Village Blitz with Roger Plante; Sam Jacobs and Crissman Inc.’s Im A Rustler Too with Tony Morgan; Real Ideal, with Jim King driving for Woody Long; and Bill Mears and North State Street Stable’s Motu Hat Trick N, handled by George Dennis.

In the second $20,000 Delaware Pace, Arty Foster, Jr.’s Sam’s Clever Boy (Brandon Givens) drew the rail; The Wiz Kids Stable’s NF Signature (Roger Plante) looks for a third straight win; and the other winner last week, Bill and Karen Haggerty’ Iza Miraculous Guy and Jim Morand drew outside post eight.

Rodney Mitchell and Green Racing’s Stock Market Wiz (Brad Hanners); Tevenay Hall (Ross Wolfenden), owned by Roland Wainwright and Joe Hundertpfund; Jeff Franklin and Todd Wise’s Marced Card (Tim Tetrick); Elmer Fannin’s Make A Success (Tony Morgan); and Foulk Stables’ Diamonds Revenge (Corey Callahan) complete a strong lineup.

Dover Downs Extra

The Breeders and Owners Association of Delaware, Inc. has called a meeting on Friday, March 23, at 6:00 p.m. at Harrington Raceway’s executive offices. The group will hold elections for a representative to the Delaware State Breeders board. Any Delaware resident who is a $10 dues paying member is eligible. Judy Davis-Wilson, executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund will be available at the meeting to answer questions concerning the First State program.

The meet’s winningest horse, Connecting Is Best, won his ninth race the hard way. In a $7,500 Delaware claiming allowance, the lowest priced event at the track, Connecting Is Best and Baaad Sox (Jim King) went at it head-to-head for virtually the entire mile before driver Tim Tetrick pulled the plugs on Connecting Is Best and the 6-year-old Village Connection gelding had just enough to hold on for the 1:54.1 victory, a new lifetime record. Connecting Is Best is owned and trained by Pedro Sanchez of Dover, Del.

Trainer-driver Steve Warrington took a bride during the week. Steve and wife, Linda, plan their honeymoon for later.

In April, Dover Downs’ weekday post time will change. All races will begin one hour later. Beginning on April 2, first post daily will be 5:30 p.m. until the meet’s closing day of April 12. During the rest of March, the regular schedule of Monday through Thursday racing remains at a 4:30 p.m. post time. Weekend racing, Saturday and Sunday continues at 5:30 p.m.

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund returns to action later this month with the sophomore divisions racing for expanded purses. The first of two weeks of eliminations for 3-year-olds begin on Sunday, March 25 with both the colt and filly pacing divisions racing for $20,000 purses. The sophomore colt trotters meet on Wednesday, March 28, with the filly trotters on Thursday, March 29. The second week of elims will be raced on corresponding days the following week. The top eight in each division return during the final week of the meet for $110,000 finals. The colt and filly pacers will race on Monday, April 9, and the colt and filly trotters will meet on closing day, Thursday, April 12.

The 2007 Classic Series begins at Dover Downs with the top male and female trotter and pacer divisions racing in four $85,000 eliminations on Monday, April 9. The Classic Series then heads for the Meadowlands for the second round and then to Ontario for the final elims. The top 10 in each division will then race for $250,000 purses.

Heading into the weekend, Tim Tetrick became the first driver in the sport to win 200 races in 2007. With seven wins Thursday, Tetrick now has 223 wins in 2007. Tony Morgan, with 172 victories, is currently in a battle with Stephane Bouchard for second place in the standings. Tetrick also has one of the highest UDRs, or batting average in the sport, at .392. Tetrick is the first to drive horses winning more than $2 million in purses this season.

After 110 racing days this meet at Dover Downs, Tim Tetrick is the second driver in track history to win more than 300 races in one meet. Tetrick has had 338 trips to the winner’s circle already this meet, which began on Oct. 29, 2006. Tony Morgan, who set an all time record of 440 wins last meet, has driven 256 winners. Ross Wolfenden is third in the standings with 126 wins. Brad Hanners is fourth with 123 winners and Ron Pierce, who drives on the Monday and Tuesday cards, is fifth with 98 winning drives.

Chuck Crissman’s lead in the track’s trainer standings has shrunk to only two. Crissman has haltered 73 wins, while last meet’s champion, Josh Green, now has 71 wins. Dylan Davis is in third place with 53 wins. Les Givens and Tim Crissman are tied for fourth with 47 winners each.