Muskateer Hanover shot up the pylons to win his second straight $38,194 Blue Hen Open Pace at Bally’s Dover on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The 3-5 favourite, Itsrockandroll A (Tim Tetrick), blasted off the wings to grab an early lead. Tom Horn (Ross Wolfenden), searching for his 11th consecutive win, rushed up on the outside but was parked out by Itsrockandroll A, who played bully to a snappy :26.2 opening quarter. Tom Horn then cleared to the front after the first station, and Itsrockandroll A, while re-taking the lead, interfered with Downers Delight (Pat Berry), forcing him three-wide before the half in :54.3.

Motoring up the backstretch, the front-end battle ensued. Itsrockandroll A continued on the point but received heavy pressure from the parked-out Downers Delight. Dale Yeah (Tony Morgan) joined the attack second-over, and Wehadababyetzaboy sat third-over while Muskateer Hanover saved ground along the pylons for Allan Davis. Itsrockandroll A continued on a tenuous lead, reaching the three-quarters in a blistering 1:21.4, and he capitulated to the all-out pressure from behind in the stretch. Muskateer Hanover found room in the lane, skirting up the pylons to win by a neck in 1:50.4 over longshot Wehadababyetzaboy. Dale Yeah was third.  

Muskateer Hanover is owned by Mulligan Stables and Calcutta Stable LLC. The six-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Marinade Hanover, trained by Jason Johnson, is now 21-for-83 lifetime. He paid $11.20 to win. 

While Tom Horn's winning streak came to an end, Armed Bandit extended his to seven straight victories in a top-level claiming pace, carrying a purse of $25,694. Driven by Pat Berry for trainer Traci Berry and owner TLB Racing LLC, Armed Bandit scored by a half-length in a career-best 1:50.2 with a front-stepping effort. Iwannabewithyou (Tony Morgan) was second, followed by Sir Charles Of Sky (Troy Beyer). The winner, a seven-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Bandolera Hanover gelding, is undefeated since returning to Dover after his Sept. 25 start. His career record is now 18-for-74. The win price was $3.60.

There is a superfecta carryover worth $2,079 and a pick-four carryover worth $1,746 to Monday’s card at Dover.

(With files from Dover Downs)