Shartin N rallied from fourth on the final turn to overtake front-runners with a dazzling last quarter performance and win the $25,000 Mares Open/Handicap in a lifetime-best 1:50.2 at Dover Downs on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Tim Tetrick took Shartin N to the outside in front of the grandstand as Valuable Art (Corey Callahan) and Nerida Franco N (Allan Davis) exchanged the lead going to a :55 half-mile. Shartin N continued to move two-wide but was still about three lengths back as Nerida Franco continued to lead the seven pacers around the final turn. Tetrick put Shartin in high gear in the stretch and rushed past the leaders to win by a half-length in a :27.3 final panel. Nerida Franco was second with Valuable Art third.
The win for the five-year-old daughter of Tintin In America-Bagdarin owned by Rich Pollucci and JoAnn Looney-King was her fourth in five U.S. starts and Tetrick’s third of four on the card. Second-place Nerida Fanco N saw a two-race win streak end. Bettorhaveanother finished out-of-the-money, her first loss after three straight wins.
In the $13,000 Mares sub-feature, Arty Foster Jr. and the III’s Skateboard Chic, a Quik Pulse Mindale-See You Hanover six-year-old, won a four-horse photo finish in 1:52.2 to give Russell Foster his second driving win on the card. Use Your Noodle (Callahan), Newborn Sassy (Tetrick) and front-pacing Planet Rock (Tony Morgan) were second, third and fourth in the photo.
Tetrick also drove Bryan Truitt’s Moments Of Joy from post nine in the second tier to a 1:53.3 victory in a $12,500 distaff pace. The Western Terror-Joy Luck Hall four-year-old was followed by Goin Again (Vince Copeland) and Said It Best (Callahan).
Tetrick’s four-bagger put him in a 119-119 tie for first-place among drivers at the track with Callahan, who had two winners himself. Also with two wins were Russell Foster and Allan Davis, whose victories included an 18-1 upset with Matinee Dragon.
Christen Me N, Sicily, Missle J, Major Uptrend and last week's winner Super Imposed head the $30,000 Preferred Pace feature on an outstanding 13-race program Thursday.
Live racing is featured Monday through Thursday weekly with a 4:30 p.m. post time. No live racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
(With files from Dover Downs)