Blueridge Tornado, underrated at odds of 10-1, recorded his fifth straight victory a lifetime best clocking of 1:55.4 in the $23,000 Open Trot on Wednesday, January 4 at Dover Downs
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Shortly after the start of the feature race, prohibitive favourite Anders Bluestone (Ross Wolfenden) and Lets Get Serious N (George Dennis) went off stride and were never factors. Matt Kakaley got first time Dover starter Blueridge Tornado away fourth and then waited until just before the three-quarter pole to move out and quickly zoom past Tigers Too Good (Dave Miller) on the final turn. The rest was easy as the Trish Foulk-trained Softys Smarty-Anticyclone gelding rolled down the lane to score his fifth consecutive victory and second for owners Gary Evans and Foulk Stables since being acquired in early December 2011 after racing at Northfield Park. Tigers Too Good was second with Gurf (Allan Davis) taking third in the week’s top trot.
In the secondary feature, a $16,000 Winners Over event, another streaking trotter, Chris Giaccio’s Allmar Surprise, notched her third win in a row in her patented style of leaving fast to get to the front and then playing follow the leader in a 1:55.3 triumph. Victor Kirby trains and reins the seven-year-old Angus Hall-Benita Victory mare, the only distaff in the field which was reduced to six starters following the scratching of Spunky Vic and Kristal Dream. Maravich (Corey Callahan) made a belated charge and finished second. Pretty Hanover (Allan Davis) was third.
Trainer Bob Mitchell and owner Pat Mitchell won back-to-back wins. B A Lady, with Vic Kirby, scored a 1:56.3 victory in the fourth. Cruisen Chick, driven by Allan Davis, took the next race in 1:56.4. Both races were $7,500 Delaware claiming races.
Owner-trainer William F. Moffett also collected consecutive wins when Good Feeling, with Vince Copeland, won a $20,000-$25,000 claiming trot and then Corey Callahan steered Hello Camie to victory in a $10,000 4&5-Year-Old Mares pace.
Drivers Mike Kakaley and Ross Wolfenden and trainer Josh Green had two wins.
(With files from Dover Downs)