Hicktown, Classic Card Shark take Dover features
DOVER, DE — Hicktown continues to climb the winning ladder while Classic Card Shark is rounding into top form after feature race wins on the Sunday, Feb. 24 card at Dover Downs.
Bob and Rhonda Smith’s Hicktown continued his early 2008 success story setting a new lifetime record of 1:51.4 winning the $23,800 Delaware Winners-Over pace with Tim Tetrick handling the driving assignment. Grinfrombeertobeer finished second for Tony Morgan while Diamonds Revenge carried Mike Cole to a third-place finish.
Classic Card Shark, bred and owned by Winbak Farms, scored a decisive 1:52.3 victory in a $19,500 4&5-Year-Old pace as Jim Morand guided the Cam’s Card Shark five-year-old to his second win in four starts this year. Gottaservesomebody (Tony Morand) was second. Cathedral Grove (Corey Callahan) took show honors.
Tony Morgan’s first of three wins came directing Mike Casalino and Dylan Davis’ Miller Creek Heart to a third consecutive win in her first local start a $16,500 4&5-Year-Old Mares pace. The Richess Hanover four-year-old won her previous two races at Balmoral Park before taking new ownership. What A Beauty (Jim Morand) was next. Leimatua (Vic Kirby) closed strongly to finish third.
Roger Plante’s third driving win came piloting Don Kozlaski’s recently acquired Bandito N, off at 17-1 odds, to a new lifetime record winning the $12,500 Male pace in 1:52.3. Primary Colours N (Corey Callahan) closed for second while front pacing Giddy Up N Giggle (Tony Morgan) held on for third.
Earlier Plante guided Joanne Matthews’ Bedegrayne Hanover home in 1:54 to win a $12,000 Delaware 4&5-Year-Old Male pace. Pantomoftheopera (Corey Callahan) was runner-up in front of Swim Shark Swim (Eddie Davis Jr.).
In a $25,000 Claiming Allowance pace, Jason Skinner’s Jiffy Popcorn overcame leaving from post 8 as Corey Callahan drove the Village Jiffy gelding to victory in 1:55, his third in four starts fourth in six outings. Allamerican Reason (Tony Morgan) was second with Mr. Socks (George Dennis) the third finisher.
In a straight $25,000 claimer, Adsdean N with Tony Morgan driving put on a strong stretch finish to catch leader GE’s Jackson (Corey Callahan) nearing the finish line to chalk up a 1:53.4 victory for owner Mildred Ventriglio. Powerful Sam (Tim Tetrick) took show money.
Morgan also drove Crissman Inc.’s Switch Hitter to a 1:54.2 triumph in a $20,000 Claiming Allowance to give the Eicarls Diehard four-year-old his second straight win. Quality Import (Sean Bier) was second. Iwannabesedated (Corey Callahan) was third.
Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. No live racing on Fridays. Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 5:30 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