Ashes Cash was asked to climb the class ladder in his quest to repeat, but the hike didn’t bother the Leigh Raymer trainee one iota in Wednesday’s $20,000 Open Trot at Dover Downs.

Over a track listed ‘good’, Ashes Cash worked his way to the front from Post 2 for driver Ross Wolfenden. After parking past the quarter pole in :28.1, the gelding took over the lead and front-stepped through middle splits of :57.4 and 1:26.2 before using a :28.3 closing panel to seal the deal by 3-3/4 lengths. Spunky Jack made a late miscue, but still managed to finish second. Third prize went to Mandabra.

The 1:55 decision comes on the heels of last week’s career-best decision of 1:54.1. The four-year-old son of Cash Hall-Ashameg is now a 17-time winner. Vito Cucci of Belmar, New Jersey owns the career winner of $116,105.