The trip was tough, but the end result was sweet for Slick Tony who dug down deep to take home top honours in Thursday’s $30,000 Preferred for pacers at Dover Downs.

With Ross Wolfenden at the controls, Slick Tony got away fourth while Rock M shot to the top and served up fractions of :26.2, :55.1 and 1:22.3. Slick Tony started a first-over bid on the way to the half, and he was just a length away from the leader as the field headed into the final quarter of the rich contest. Slick Tony used a :27.3 closing panel to win by a neck over race favourite Wiggle It Jiggleit in 1:50.2. Quality Bud took home the show dough.

George Leager owns and trains the five-year-old son of No Spin Zone-Queen Kathy who went 16-for-40 last season. The 35-time winner has banked over $630,000 to date.

Wins have been tough to come by for quite some time for Little Ben, but he put it all together on Thursday’s card and took home top honours in the $27,500 Blue Hen Open for pacers.

Tim Tetrick got away fourth with the Jim King, Jr. trainee while Sicily and Blazing Bobby Sox battled to the quarter pole in :26.4. Sicily was the leader at the mid-way point in :55.2, but Little Ben was on the move and pressing from first over. Little Ben showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:21.4, and his :28.2 closing panel was enough to earn him the win by a neck over even-money favourite Sicily in 1:50.1. Silver Fox J took home third prize.

Little Ben won for the 40th time in his career while pushing his overall cash stash to $556,693 for owner Joann Looney King of Harrington, DE.