For the second straight week, Nova Artist recreated a 1:50.4 victory to win the $30,000 Preferred Pace while Jeremys Successor stepped up for a second consecutive victory taking the $27,500 Delaware Special during Thursday’s 16-race program at Dover Downs.
Allan Davis put Nova Artist into high gear in the stretch and the son of Real Artist-Avon Lady overwhelmed five foes for a 1:50.2 triumph in this week’s top pacing event. Ultra consistent Adventure Bound closed with Ron Pierce to finish second. Texican N and Ross Wolfenden closed with a rush for third.
The Delaware Valley’s all-time leading driver, now retired from driving for the most part, trains and owns Nova Artist with his wife Kathy. The win was the 32nd in his career for the seven-year-old who now has banked $798,167 lifetime. The win was the fifth top-class event won by Nova Artist, a former Dover Downs Horse of the Meet.
Jeremys Successor made good use of starting from Post 1, as Trace Tetrick was content to sit behind front-pacing Sunshine Superman (Toby Lynch) and race favourite Mustang Art (Ron Pierce) battling head-to-head for much of the race. Tetrick then pulled out in the stretch to overtake the leaders en route to a 1:51.4 victory in the $27,500 Delaware Special. Sunshine Superman put in a gritty showing to finish second in front of fast-finishing Papa Ray (Ross Wolfenden).
It was the 10-year-old Mach Three-Gentle Audrey gelding’s third win in his last four outings. Jeremys Successor is trained by Crissy Bier for Heavenly Ways Stable.
(Dover Downs)