Dapper Dude parlayed a second-over trip into a dominant score in Monday’s $30,000 Open Preferred Handicap for pacers at Dover Downs.
Victory Kirby was in no hurry in the early going with Dapper Dude, who slid into an early six-hole while Bushwacker fired to the front and muscled his way through fractions of :26.1, :55.1 and 1:23. Major Uptrend made a first-over bid at the mid-way point, and latching onto his cover was Dapper Dude. The prompter of the pace started to fade late, and that forced Kirby to fire around his tiring cover. Dapper Dude then used a :27.1 final frame to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Mustang Art in 1:50.3. Bushwacker settled for the show dough.
Jim King, Jr. trains the seven-year-old son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest for owner Richard Poillucci of Easton, MA. It was the second win of the year – and the 22nd to date – for the career winner of $934,216.