Despite finishing no worse than third in each of his last four starts at Dover Downs, Devils Ivy wasn’t given much pari-mutuel support by the Delaware faithful in Monday’s $35,000 Preferred Pace

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Sent off at odds of 12-1, Devils Ivy tracked cover before springing loose and using a powerful kick to post the narrow victory for the tandem of driver Eric Goodell and owner/trainer Arty Foster.

Devils Ivy got away sixth while Three Of Spades and Jeremys Successor battled to the quarter pole in :26.3 before the latter was released to the top. Jeremys Successor had the field lined up behind him at the mid-way point in :54.2, but the hot pace eventually took its toll on the temposetter. He zipped by the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 while feeling pressure from Southwind Lynx, who supplied perfect cover to Devils Ivy.

Southwind Lynx was a clear leader at the head of the stretch, but he couldn’t fend off Devils Ivy who got up to win by a neck in a time of 1:52.3. Southwind Lynx was next best, and Harlingen Hanover came on late to finish a lapped-on third.

The eight-year-old son of Camluck-Idylwood Legend improved his 2011 record to 2-1-3 in seven tries while pushing his lifetime earnings to $379,553.

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