Empress Deo does it again, coming from last to win her third consecutive $20,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace on a mild Tuesday, Dec. 27 at Dover Downs.

Leaving from the outside in a strong field of seven female pacers, Empress Deo was again not heard from until late in a 1:53.3 mile but in the stretch Allan Davis sent the Rocknroll Hanover-Little Miss K five-year-old into overdrive streaking past six opponents to score her seventh victory of 2017 for trainer Wayne Givens’ Legacy Racing Of Delaware.

It was an all-out battle for the front in the lane with Elliesjet N (Jonathan Roberts), Purrfect Bags (Vic Kirby) and race-favourite Lightning Mach N (Tim Tetrick) across the track with Empress Deo blurring past in the final strides. Elliesjet N finished second in front of Lightning Mach N, who came into the event with a perfect three-for-three record in her first U.S. starts.

Empress Deo has won her last three outings and four of her last five starts with the only blemish a second, beaten by a nose. Of her eight races since the meet began, she also has two other second place finishes and all eight purse cheques. She completes this year earning $171,633, good for $352,061 lifetime.

IL MAGO SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT IN $20,000 HANDICAP TROT FEATURE

Fresh from consecutive wins, Il Mago looks for another $20,000 Open/Handicap Trot in the Wednesday, Dec. 28 feature race on a strong trotting card at Dover Downs.

This week Il Mago and driver Tim Tetrick must leave from the outside in the eight-horse field. CC Racing owns the Canadian-bred seven-year-old who has won eight times this year. Leading the contenders is B Yoyo (Joe Bongiorno), who has been consistent in recent starts with two wins and four seconds in his last seven top-class races at Eastern tracks.

Weekday first race post time for Monday through Thursday harness racing racing is 4:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are dark days.

(with files from Dover)