Fox Valley Hermia opened up a solid late in the late stages of Monday’s $18,000 feature race for distaffers at Dover Downs, and she managed to hold on for a narrow score in the main event.
Sean Bier got away sixth from Post 3 with Fox Valley Hermia, while Jeremes Sweetheart shot to the top from Post 4 and supplied the field with first-half fractions of :27 and :56.3 over a track rated “sloppy”. Bier had his charge first-over on the way to the half, and Fox Valley Hermia took over the lead and started to open up at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. A :28.4 closing quarter earned Fox Valley Hermia the half-length score over Mach A Wish in 1:53.1. Jeremes Sweetheart settled for third prize.
Nick Surick, who sent out three winners on the card, trains the six-year-old daughter of Yankee Skyscaper-Hidden Princess for owner Erv Miller of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania. It was the first win of the season – and the 22nd to date – for the career winner of $177,214.