Rusty’s Biggie takes Dover feature; Tetrick wins five
DOVER, DE - Rusty’s Biggie was victorious in the $32,000 Open, Saint Johns Boy won the $25,000 Winners-Over, and Go Sassy Go took $16,000 trot at Dover Downs on a snowy Wednesday (Feb. 20) night. Tim Tetrick had a five-bagger.
In the feature, Rusty’s Biggie moved up on the outside of leader Jake’s Nordic at the three quarters with Stunt Man Hall and George Dennis three-wide before completing the final turn. In the stretch, after urging Rusty’s Biggie into the lead, Tim Tetrick guided the CR Commando gelding to the wire, holding off Stunt Man Hall in a 1:57.3 mile. Jake’s Nordic and Tim Curtin finished third.
The victory was the third of the year in seven starts for the six-year-old owned by Horsemans Financial Agency and Premier Racing Stable. Rusty’s Biggie has now earned $43,825 this year and $174,509 in his career.
Saint Johns Boy took the lead at the start and driver Ross Wolfenden then played follow-the-leader the rest of a convincing 1:58 mile to win the $25,000 Winners-Over trot, the first of two win for trainer Ron Millman. The win was the second of 2008 for the 10-year-old Lindy Lane gelding owned by M&M Harness Racing. Moneyball picked up second money with Mike Cole driving. Breeze Hill Will and Corey Callahan was the show horse.
George Dennis, who drove two winners, rushed Go Sassy Go into the lead at the three quarters and then breezed to a 1:57.1 triumph in a $19,500 conditioned trot. Delbert Cain bred and owns the former DSBF juvenile champion. Laser Lavec (Dylan Davis) was second with Rambo Kandu (Mike Cole) hustling home for third.
Tim Tetrick’s third win came driving Howard Kaufman’s Jessie Hall to a 1:58.1 score in a $16,000 conditioned trot. The seven year-old Conway Hall mare had dropped down in class and proved the best in the field of eight starters. Kennywood (Roger Plante) was second best. Sandys Attitude (Art Stafford Jr.) finished third.
BJ’s Braveheart and Tony Morgan, battled 74-1 shot Night Talker (Jim Morand) almost the length of the stretch before finally getting up in the final strides for a 1:56 victory in a $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Delaware Male pace. Robin and Megan Callahan own the winner setting a lifetime mark in the race. Buffalo Have Wings (Ross Wolfenden) finished third. After the race Morgan withdrew from the rest of his drives due to illness.
Barry and Debra Unger’s Leonard Place notched his second straight win with Jonathan Roberts piloting the four-yea-old gelding to a convincing 1:54 conquest in a $30,000 Claiming Allowance. Dreamluck (Jim Morand) and Suffern’s Z Tam (Mike Cole) were second and third respectively.
Off at 74-1 odds, George Dennis drove Richard Zulick’s In Hot Pursuit HR to a 1:55.4 upset in the $25,000 Claiming Allowance, a race in which four of the starters, but not the winner and second place finisher, were claimed. Fully Exotic (Brandon Givens) was second with Kilkerran Scot (Kevin Sizer) was third.
George Dennis, Ross Wolfenden and Corey Callahan had driving doubles.
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