The holiday season has not ended for Jingle Bell Rocker, winner of his fifth in a row on Sunday, Jan. 3 at Dover Downs.
Jingle Bell Rocker, a dominant claiming winner last year reaching the winner’s circle 16 times, started off the New Year with his fifth consecutive victory for owner Tina Clark. Les Givens conditions the Rocknroll Hanover-Blizzard Of Oz gelding, driven by Ross Wolfenden in all his local wins. Jingle Bell Rocker won the evening's $10,000 Claiming Allowance in 1:54.1. Arockin Hanover (Allan Davis) was second with Alex In Wonderland (Sean Bier) third.
After being claimed last time out, Brioni stepped up to win the $15,000 Claiming Allowance with a 1:53.1 effort on the first Sunday card of the meet. Marcus Miller steered Broni to his second consecutive win and fourth in his last five races, scoring a 1:53.1 triumph for new owner/trainer Arty Foster. The now five-year-old son of Four Starzzz Shark-Armbro Bahama won a tight photo over Native Art (Montrell Teague) with Danish Diligence (Ross Wolfenden) finishing third. The win extends his lifetime bankroll to $83,865. As Bad As Thunder (Bret Brittingham) saw a three-race win streak end with a fourth-place finish.
Also on the program, Corey Callahan racked up his third winner steering Tom Lazzaro’s Contraband Hanover, a Somebeachsomewhere-Castaway Hanover gelding, to an easy 1:53 win. It was meet-leading trainer Dylan Davis’ second winner. Lettucefib A (Art Stafford Jr.) finished second with Morgan Shark (Wolfenden) third.
Coal Hanover and Tony Morgan ended a string of three second-place finishes, with a 1:54.2 victory in a 4&5-Year-Old Pace. Foulk Stables owns the Dragon Again-Calgary Hanover gelding. Full On Rocknroll (Callahan) was runner-up in front of Mr Pearl (Wolfenden).
Jason Lynch drove Millenium Wheel from far back to pass the leaders in the late going for a 1:53.1 score in another Male pace. The Bettors Delight-London Eye gelding was winless in 2015. Smart Rokker (Jonathan Roberts) and early leader Elite Awards (M.Miller) were second and third, respectively.
Callahan led all drivers with three wins and Vic Kirby had a double. Joe Hundertpfund and Dylan Davis haltered two winners each.
(With files from Dover Downs)