Racin Hungry, typically a closer, changed strategy by racing on the front-end and won the $34,247 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday, March 25.

Ballast (Art Stafford Jr.) and Racin Hungry, driven by Pat Berry, were quickest leaving the gate, with Ballast stringing out Racin Hungry to the quarter in :26.1 before yielding to that rival. Racin Hungry, the 6-5 favourite, was in total control of the fractions from there, backing down the tempo to the half in :55.1 before sprinting to three-quarters in 1:22.1 while opening up by 2-1/2 lengths. She was unhurried down the lane and drew off to win by four lengths under wraps in 1:50.3. Disturbed Hanover (Barton Dalious) got up for second over Ballast.

Racin Hungry, a six-year-old daughter of Stay Hungry-Four Starzz Meliss, is now 25-for-80 lifetime. She is trained by Traci Berry for Glenn Goller of Delray Beach, Fla. and Stephen Demeter of Tarrytown, N.Y. Her backers received $4.40.

“When I saw Jason (Thompson)'s mare Jett Propelled take back, I didn’t see a lot of speed on the inside and wanted to try leaving with her, and she responded,” Pat Berry said after the race.    

After a six-win outing last night, Tim Tetrick drove five winners on the 15-race Wednesday card. He scored with Kiss Cam ($3.40), Twin B Cardi B ($5.80), Nite Time Deal ($4.20), Divine Deo ($2.20) and Moscow Mitch ($3). His two-day total of 11 wins brought his lead in the drivers' standings to 34 over Tony Morgan. Tetrick has 91 wins so far this season.

On Thursday’s card at Dover, there are two elimination races of the DSBF Late Closing Series for three-year-old colt-and-gelding pacers. The feature race of the week is the 10th-race $25,000 USD Open Handicap Pace, in which Muskateer Hanover returns after a week away from the races. Wehadababyetzaboy enters the race off back-to-back wins.

Next week will be the final week of live harness racing at Bally’s Dover for the year. 

(With files from Dover Downs)