Celii, Lady Segil, Financial Glider headline Dover Thursday
DOVER, DE — Celii N won the feature pace, while Lady Segil N and Financial Glider won the top trots on Thursday (Feb. 28) at Dover Downs. Tony Morgan had four winners while Eddie Davis Jr. and Corey Callahan scored triples.
Corey Callahan won the second of a back-to-back double closing with a rush to just get up in the final strides driving Dave and Linda Oliver’s Celii N to a 1:54.1 victory in the $16,500 4&5-Year-Old Male pace. Pilgrims Burner (Tony Morgan) was a close second, a neck in front of Beavercreek Harley (Roger Plante). The win was the second in his last three starts for the Badlands Hanover gelding.
Joe Muscara’s Lady Segil N won the $14,500 feature trot rolling down the passing lane for Tony Morgan to score a 1:58 decision. TP Twinkle Toes (Carlo Poliseno) was placed second when Magic Swan (Vic Kirby) broke stride nearing the finish line. Smokey Bear was moved up from fourth and placed third.
In the other half of the day’s top trots, Eddie Davis Jr. moved Lorna Cohen and Kevin Switzer’s Financial Glider three-wide heading to the three quarters and then pulled away for a 1:58.1 victory in a second $14,500 trot. The win was the second for Eddie Davis Jr. Armbro Emma (Ben Stafford Jr.) rolled home along the inside to finish second in front of Game Speed (Corey Callahan).
George Hobbs’ The Other Cheek, a Western Hanover gelding, scored a 1:52.1 triumph in an $11,000 Male pace for Tony Morgan’s second winner. Western Number (Roger Plante) was runner-up. Jet Set Hall (Kevin Sizer) came in third.
Recent new owners, Charles and Diane Coursey’s Northern Scholar proved the best in a $20,000 Claiming pace. Brandon Givens guided the five-year-old California-bred gelding to victory holding off fast finishing Mr. Fit (Jonathan Roberts). Bionicle N (Corey Callahan) came on to finish third.
Corey Callahan finished off the program with his third driving win piloting To Much Fun to a nose victory in 1:53.4 to nip Mac’s Derrick T (Kevin Sizer) at the wire. Four Starzzz Favor (Kim Vincent) was the show finisher. Nick and son, Shaun Callahan and unrelated Parker Callahan own the Lislea-sired winner.
Jason Lynch gave himself a 19th birthday present. The youthful driver recorded his first lifetime pari-mutuel win guiding Cliff Green’s Coopersmith to a 1:58 win in a $7,500 Delaware Claiming pace. In his previous four drives behind Coopersmith, Lynch had finished second twice and third twice.
Wayne Givens and Arty Foster Jr. had two training wins each.
No live racing on Fridays. Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant 302-674-4600.
– Marv Bachrad, Dover Downs