Cajon Lightning took the lead early on the way to his fifth win of the meet romping to a 1:51.2 success in Thursday’s $25,000 Open pace at Dover Downs.
Three drivers dominated on the 13-race card; Tim Tetrick won four, Tony Morgan and Art Stafford, Jr. had three win apiece.
Trained by Eric Ell for Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms, after starting from the outside in his last two starts, drew post 3 this time and that was all driver Stafford, Jr. and Cajon Lightning needed rolling on for a 1:51.2 conquest in the feature race. Baileys Rock N (Tetrick), who stepped up in class, was a winner of six of his previous seven starts since October, had to settle for second. Arque Hanover (Corey Callahan) was the third-place finisher.
The victory was the 20th lifetime for the Mach Three-Tex In The City gelding who now has banked $266,570 career purses.
Red hot Tony Morgan provided the driving for trainer Brian and Carrie Malone’s Hypothetical, a Somebeachsomewhere-Restive Hanover four-year-old, to secure a 1:51 lifetime best clocking in an $18,000 Winners pace. Jack Roger (Tetrick) and Never Say Never N (Callahan) were second and third respectively.
In a $16,000 Winners pace, Eddie Davis, Jr. left fast from post 8 driving American Sportsman, and never looked back fashioning a 1:52.1 mark. The Somebeachsomewhere-Precious Beauty colt, now four, is trained by Joe Columbo for George and Tiny Dennis Racing. Cash Is King (Callahan) got up for second in front of JJ Tanner (Davis).
(With files from Dover)