Male pacers, claimers headline V-Day at Dover
DOVER, Del. — A $16,000 4&5-Year-Old Male pace and a $25,000 and two $20,000 Claiming paces head the Thursday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day card at Dover Downs. First post is 4:30 p.m.
Six of the eight starters in the $16,000 Male pace are four-year-olds but a five-year-old, David and Linda Oliver’s Celii N, was the lone winner last time out when the Badlands Hanover gelding scored a 1:53.4 victory. Frank Milby will drive. Rich Esham and trainer-driver Bryan Truitt’s Stacy’s Character finished second in his last two outings. Vincent Bradley Stable’s Fifth Wave has a win, second twice and third once in his previous four starts with George Dennis driving.
Gateway Stable’s Reverse The Curse and Jonathan Roberts drew the rail with the other five-year-old Cathedral Grove with Corey Callahan is alongside while Mike Cole will drive Tufsun Beach for Foulk Stables. The other starters are Neil Chesen’s Monbak with Tom Curtin and Roan’n At Cooly’s Stables’ NF Rivers Edge piloted by track leading driver Tony Morgan.
Nine start in the $25,000 Claiming Allowance. Two contenders were close second’s last week, Barry and Deb Unger’s Leonard Place (Jonathan Roberts) and Bill Emmons’ Iluka Bay N (George Dennis). Larry Baron’s Elegant Dreams (Tim Tetrick) has post 1 alongside of Nick Callahan’s GE’s Jackson (Corey Callahan).
Suffern’s Z Tam (Eddie Davis Jr.) drops down a notch for mark Eichberger and Wilson Racing Stable. Katja Schrevogel’s Kyrios N (Eddie Davis Jr.). Fully Exotic (Brandon Givens) closed well last time for Marvin and Mark Adams and trainer Wayne Givens. Rich Lester and trainer Tony Domino’s Mako Sica (Kevin Sizer) and Jim Banks’ Intimidator Three (Roger Plante) have upset credentials.
John Gallucio’s Ethon Sun A (George Dennis) and Martin Scharf’s Northern Scholar (Tony Morgan) posted wins last time and lead a field of eight in the first $20,000 Claiming Allowance. Rodney Long and Tim Hundertpfund’s Wantasmile (Jim Morand) is the lone four-year-old in the line-up. Bo Knows Trouble (Jason Lynch) makes his first start after being claimed for Toby Lynch. Ryan Bailey’s He’s The Real Deal (Corey Callahan) has been in top form of late. Kathleen Weller’s Random Rogue (Tim Tetrick) should be tough from post 2. Bill Emmons’ Cloudy Heights N (Kevin Sizer) and John Curran’s hard-hitting veteran Gehrig (Ross Wolfenden) are the other starters.
The other $20,000 claimer is a wide-open affair. Bobby Glassmeyer’s CR Shanghai drops down in price after a third last time. WJ McDougall Racing’s No Fuel Required (Mike Cole) steps up after a close second last time. Dan Murray’s Pegasus Osborne (Frank Milby) should be tough from the rail with Angelo Papa’s Marathon Hall (Eddie Davis Jr.) to his right. To Much Fun Corey Callahan) has won two of his last three.
The rest of the field is made up by Glitter For Prez (Ross Wolfenden) for Bob Rementer and trainer Jason Skinner, Jason William N (Tony Morgan), owned by Chris Choros and Crissman Inc., Art Carney (Jim Morand) racing for Tim Hundertpfund and Joe Colosi, and Howard Taylor’s Biojoba (Ed Nickle).
Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m. 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