Longshots were in vogue for feature trots on New Year’s Day at Dover Downs as Spunky Jack used the passing lane to win the $20,000 Open in a four-horse photo while Ideal Revenue stormed the outside to win a $14,500 race on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Awsome Valley cut out the fractions from the start while fighting off competition from mid-backstretch until Roger Plante scooted Spunky Jack along the passing lane to get up for a 1:56.2 victory.
Owned by Walt Callam and trained by Steve LeBlanc, Spunky Jack was overlooked at 13-1 despite winning his previous start. Wednesday's win was the 13th lifetime for the now five-year-old altered son of Super Pink out My Embrace.
Awsome Valley (Tony Morgan) finished a valiant second with Mandabra (Corey Callahan), making his first start since last July, edging good closing Enrico AS (Allan Davis) for third.
One race later, Mike Rossi pulled Ideal Revenue off the rail in mid-stretch and flew past the early leaders to score an easy 1:55 lifetime-best triumph in the sub-feature trot. The Revenue D-New Ideal gelding, owned by trainer Jim and Carol Atkinson, was followed by Jailhouse Juice (Toby Lynch) and early leader Lock Tight (Corey Callahan). Dnieper (Daryl Bier) was a strong finishing fourth.
Meet leading driver Corey Callahan got off to another fast start driving four winners. In addition to a 53-1 winning drive, Rossi also brought in a 27-1 shot, Check Dons Pulse, in the 15th race for his second win.
First post on weekdays, Monday through Thursday, is 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday are dark days. Sunday racing begins at 5:30 p.m.
(With files from Dover Downs)