Papa Ray came from off the pace to win the $25,000 Delaware Special while The Triple Lindy made it from last to first in the $18,500 Open Trot, the double-feature handicaps on the first card of 2015 at Dover Downs.
For the second time in three starts, Reg Hazzard II and Legacy Racing’s Papa Ray took top honours in the $25,000 Delaware Special Handicap as Eddie Davis Jr. came between horses to get up in 1:51.3. Wayne Givens conditions the six-year-old Village Jolt - Liamatters horse, now a winner for the third time this meet and 22nd time in his career while banking $369,128 lifetime. Believe This Bob (Ross Wolfenden) closed strongly for second while Simons Artist (Trace Tetrick) zoomed down the passing lane to finish third.
One race earlier, The Triple Lindy came from last to pull away in the deep stretch for a 1:55.2 conquest in the week’s top trot, the $18,000 Open Handicap. Vic Kirby trains and drives the Credit Winner-Measure Up gelding for C&G Racing Stable. The Triple Lindy won his second start in a row and third since arriving at the track in December. For the second straight week Tirade Hanover (Callahan) finished second, after cutting the mile. Baximum (Allan Davis) took third. The Triple Lindy notched his 21st win in 85 starts, earning $278,101.
Corey Callahan found room in the stretch to get Cam B Skipper home in 1:53.3 in the $18,000 Winners-Over Handicap. MIllenium Wheel (Jason Lynch) was next with Bettor’s Arena (Trace Tetrick) third. Doug Lewis conditions Cam B Zipper, a Cammibest-Kellycrombie gelding, one of three winners for owner Howard Taylor.
Spinfiniti was another Taylor-owned winner. The five-year-old son of No Spin Zone-Hurricane Jenna was one of Ron Pierce’s four wins and came in the $14,500 pace for four- and five-year-olds. A strong final quarter burst solidified the win for Spinfiniti in 1:54, with Cherokee Hunter (Callahan) as runner-up and Rock Absorber (Kirby) was the show horse.
Pierce also drove Wade Wyatt’s Flying Cowboy, a Brandons Cowboy-Flower Art gelding, to victory in 1:54.1 to win the $15,500 Four & Five-Year-Old Open. Framed Art (Art Stafford) finished second. Star Messenger (Tetrick) was the show horse.
Corey Callahan and Ron Pierce had four wins each. Owner Howard Taylor had a triple. Eddie Davis Jr. and Vic Kirby each had two training wins as did meet-leading trainer Wayne Givens and owner Legacy Racing.
Friday and Saturday are ‘dark days’, with harness racing resuming on Sunday with post time at 5:30 p.m.
(with files from Dover)