Ultimate Bet upsets in Dover feature
DOVER, DE - Ultimate Bet led from start to finish in 1:53.3 to prove a 25-1 surprise in the $32,000 Mares Open pace at Dover Downs on Tuesday, February 19. Shady Sabrina and Badlands Iron Lady won the $25,000 Mares Winners-Over paces. Unn saw her nine-race win streak snapped and the sport’s leading driver Tony Morgan had a triple.
Sean Bier urged Three Point Acres’ Ultimate Bet into the lead just before the opening panel and the Bettor’s Delight five-year-old was invincible the rest of the 1:53.3 mile. Ideal Weather finished a gritty second for Eric Goodell, coming back in the stretch after testing Ultimate Bet heading to the three quarters and being passed by Dream-A-While until turning for home. Roger Plante rallied Easter Egg Hunt to a third-place finish. Ultimate Bet’s win was her third of the year and was surprisingly overlooked in the wagering after being the favorite in this event last week.
In the first of two $25,000 sub-features, Shady Sabrina, piloted by meet-leading driver Tony Morgan, split horses in deep stretch to win a tight photo finish in 1:54.4. Sweet Lips was second for Roger Plante with Lockes Of Love and Eric Goodell third. The win by Shady Sabrina, a six-year-old by Cam’s Dignity, is the second of the season for Shady Sabrina and owner Lorna Cohen, and the first with trainer Doug Lewis, the former right hand man of Kevin Lare’s successful training operation. Lewis now has haltered three wins in seven starts at the track in recent weeks. He also sent out several winners at the Meadowlands meet.
In the other $25,000 Mares section, Eddie Davis Jr. sat patiently second driving Badlands Iron Lady as front-pacing Yada Yada Yada A with Ross Wolfenden and Bikini Bottom and Eric Goodell raced head-to-head midway through the stretch. Badlands Iron Lady then scooted along the passing lane to get up in 1:53.4 for owner Only Money inc. Yada Yada Yada A held on for second with Bikini Bottom getting third. Trained by Tim Torbert, Badlands Iron Lady posted her second victory of the year. The Badlands Hanover five-year-old upped her seasonal earnings to $28,600 and $229,305 lifetime.
Tony Morgan also guided Joyce Keeler’s Make Amends to her second success this year added to three second-place finishes. Angels And Me (Jim King) was second in front of Painted Lady K (Brewer Adams). The win was the 14th of the meet for unsung trainer Vic Keeler II, He has started only 28 horses with half of them making the winner’s circle.
Feel The Pulse drew clear on the final turn and then held off fast finishing Mapua Magic N (Corey Callahan) in the final strides for a 1:54.2 conquest in A $20,000-$25,000 Mares Claiming Allowance. Housewifes Delight (George Dennis) was third. Eric Goodell drove the winner for meet leading trainer Josh Green and owners Ellis Freedman and Nathan Epstein.
Atlanta Falcons’ linebacker DeMorrio Williams and Teague Inc.’s Firiel Hanover recorded a 1:54.1 triumph in a $16,000 Mares pace with Jim Morand in the bike. Rafaella Seelster (Tony Morgan) was runner-up. Alberts Drifter N (Bret Brittingham) was the show horse. The win was the second of the day for owner-trainer Teague and Morand.
Sixteen Candles, owned in part by trainer Bob Kinsey and William Oberle Jr. came three-wide around the final turn and withstood West Coast Arturo (Jonathan Roberts), second, and Ain’t Goin Back (Ben Stafford Jr.) third, in the stretch for a 1:54.3 victory.
A 1:55.1 victory by Nick Callahan’s TJ’s Molly May handed Unn (George Dennis), her first setback after nine-straight wins. Corey Callahan steered the second win in a row for the Park Place mare. Prettyasapageant (Jonathan Roberts) closed with a rush to take second. Unn had to settle for 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