Front-end tactics failed to work in back-to-back starts for Tough Mac, but he regained his winning touch when asked to race from off the speed in Wednesday’s $20,000 Open Trot at Dover Downs.

Corey Callahan grabbed the Dylan Davis trainee the three-hole in the early stages of the tilt while Hemi Seelster muscled to the front and hit the quarter pole in :27.2. He cruised past the half-way point in :56.4 before coming under attach from War Cry Hall. They battled past the three-quarter marker in 1:25, with Tough Mac advancing second over on the rim. Tough Mac then used a :28.4 closing kick to win by a half-length margin over War Cry Hall in 1:54. Spunky Jack took home third prize.

The six-year-old Lockkeeper-Traditional Lady gelding is now 11-for-24 this season and 21-for-93 in his career. Michael Casalino, Jr. of Freehold, New Jersey owns the winner of $261,592.