A pair of first time 2009 winners, Wholeftthegateopen and Deborah and Barak won the co-feature paces at Dover Downs on Thursday, February 19.

Mike Cole and Jason Cribbs' Wholeftthegateopen had just enough to hold off Ruffled Tux (Tony Morgan) at the wire in 1:54.3 to win the $14,00 Male pace feature. An altered son of Mattuity--Pier Twenty One, the six-year old had a neck advantage posting his first win of 2009 for trainer Mike Hall. Costalot NZ (driven by Tim Curtin) was third.

Deborah And Barak gave Tony Morgan his second win. The Blissfull Hall-Just Jodi four-year-old won her first of the year in 1:57 in a $10,500 4&5-Year-Old Filly and Mare pace. Fire the dragon (Roger Plante) finished second in front of GEs Ales (George Dennis).

There were two $9,500 trots on the program. In one, Daryl Bier moved Ode To Earl, a nine-year-old son of the late Earl--Armbro Odalisk, to the outside at the three quarters and then opened up a big lead on the far turn on the way to a 1:59.4 win in a $9,600 Delaware trot. Victory Starburst (Ross Wolfenden) was second while CCs Glide-On-By (Joe Columbo) was the show horse.

In the other feature trot, Roger Plante made good use of starting from the rail as he piloted Murat Farm's Extreme Image to victory in 2:01. Phyllis Copeland conditions the Balanced Image--Soignee gelding. Wishwell Sugarbaby (Jon Roberts) was second with Cabernet Caviar (Justine Hite) the third finisher.

Ross Wolfenden had a driving triple. Tony Morgan and Brandon Givens had two winners each.

(Dover Downs)