The betting public hit the nail on the head when it came to placing favourite status in Thursday’s featured events at Dover Downs.

Backstreet Shadow was a popular victor in the $32,500 Preferred Handicap for pacers. Tim Tetrick quarter pole-moved the Ron Burke trainee to the lead and once he cleared to the top he sliced out middle splits of :54.2 and 1:22.4 before using a :27-second closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Bettor Memories in 1:49.4. Bo Mach was third.

Sent off as the 1-2 choice in the six-horse affair, the five-year-old son of Shadow Play-Backstreet Sweetie nabbed his second straight victory and the 19th of his career. The winner of more than $500,000 is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb.

Slick Tony survived a first-over journey and came away victorious in the $30,000 Blue Hen Open Pace for the Georges.

It was George Napolitano, Jr. mapping out the come-from-behind tally with the George Leber student who owns a 2-2-0 record from seven trips to the track this season. He won by 2-1/2 lengths over Qs Cruise in 1:50.2. Taking home third prize was Manverick.

Leager bred and owns the five-year-old son of No Spin Zone-Queen Kathy. The 36-time winner has stashed away more than $660,000 in his career.