by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — A $24,000 four-year-old Open Pace is the featured race on Sunday, April 10 at Dover Downs.

The field is led by last week’s surprise winner, Toy Dragon, and a newcomer, razor sharp Pedone, who has finished first in his last five starts.

Six $15,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) preliminaries are also on the 15-race program. Post time is 5:30 p.m.

Joe and JoAnn Thomson’s Toy Dragon strutted to a Steve Warrington driven, 1:52.3 wire-to-wire victory last Sunday, becoming the first female to race in the event and the first to win. The Dragon’s Lair daughter now has won five of nine starts this meet with two seconds.

For the second straight week, Kovach Stable’s Art Director and Vic Kirby had to settle for bridesmaid honors. The previous week Mark’s Secret Love, owned by Betsy and Ken Wood and Henry King, and driven by Jim Morand, also turned in a mild upset win.

After drawing an outside post in his last four outings, Marchand, owned by Jim Sprow, Crystal Ball Stable and LeBlanc Racing, leaves from post one with meet leading driver Brad Hanners at the controls.

Early last month, Pedone was claimed by Fred and Anita Fialkow, after being claimed after a winning effort the previous start. Since then Pedone, a son of Western Hanover, has never been headed after taking the lead at the three-quarters. In one of those four starts for meet leading trainer Kevin Lare, Pedone was disqualified after a six and a half length win and placed second. He has won his last three convincingly.

Next Flight makes his second start following a three week respite and should be a major factor this week. The 2004 DSBF sophomore champion, owned by Belle Bauman, Henry Faragalli, Jr., Henry Faragalli III and trainer Del Cote, will be driven by Jim Morand.

Cavalli Pazzi Stables’ Harry Hornet, reined by Ross Wolfenden, has upset credentials as well.

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund moves into its second round of $15,000 three-year-old preliminaries. Last week, KDK Standardbreds’ Valerin K (Jim Morand), Wireless Hanover (Tim Curtin), owned by Dan and Tom Courtemanche, and John Celii’s Bad Hombre (Brad Hanners) won the colt prelims, while Peggy Martin’s Vital Flyte (Kevin Sizer), William Moffett’s Front Tier Power (Jim Morand) and Tom Dillon and Walt Hight’s Buckleup Baby (Brad Hanners) won the filly pace prelims.

The top eight point-getters in each pacing division will qualify for $100,000 finals on April 18.

Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, post time is 4:30 p.m. No racing on Fridays and Saturdays. Monday, April 11 is Rainbow Blue Day in Delaware. There is no charge for admission or parking. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.