Corey Callahan pulled Tirade Hanover out of fourth and then wore down The Triple Lindy in the stretch for a 1:54.3 victory in the cold and windy Wednesday, Jan. 7, $18,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs.
Again, race favourite for the third straight outing, Tirade Hanover delivered with his first win of the new season after consecutive seconds.
In a three-horse battle down the lane, Tirade Hanover zipped past The Triple Lindy, winner of the last two Opens with Vic Kirby driving the front-trotting leader, and Awsome Valley, who was sitting second until the passing lane opened and came storming through the stretch to finish a close-up third for Ross Wolfenden.
The win was one of five on the card for Callahan. Owned by Steve Moss, the Solomons and trainer Leigh Raymer, Tirade Hanover won for the 20th time and now has $621,990 in lifetime earnings.
Howard Taylor and Rich Lombardo’s Fitness Craze made it two in a row as Daryl Bier piloted the Crazed-Aerobics gelding to victory in 1:56 in the $14,000 4&5-Year-Old Winners Over Trot sub-feature. Sentry (Callahan) was runner-up. Futuristic Bride (Jonathan Roberts) finished second. The win was the second for driver Bier, who drove 70-1 shot Ooh Dear Sam to a 1:54.4 upset in a $15,000 Claiming Pace.
Owners Tim Mumford and trainer Shane Long collaborated on two longshot winners. Jake Of Hearts and Allan Davis, at 37-1, took the first of two Delaware $5,000 Claiming Paces, and later 18-1 Annies Shooter was victorious with Ross Wolfenden in the bike.
Christmas season is over but Jingle Bell Rocker is still at it, winning for the fifth consecutive time. Trace Tetrick drove the Rocknroll Hanover-Blissard Of Oz gelding, conditioned by Les Givens, to a 1:54 victory in a Delaware $7,500 claimer. Tina Clark posted her second owner victory on the card.
(With files from Dover Downs)