Awsome Valley dictated the fractions on the way to a 1:56.2 victory in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
Tony Morgan took Awsome Valley into the early lead and strolled to the half in a pedestrian :59.1 before turning on the burners en route to a 1:56.2 success. He held off Enrico AS and Allan Davis, who challenged the winner on the backstretch to the finish line. The win was Awsome Valley's first in 2014 after losing by just a head on New Year's Day.
The Barbara Boese Revocable Trust owns the Valley Victor-Nannina Ambrosio gelding, who is trained by Ryan McInnis. Awsome Valley's 19th victory put him into $200,000 territory.
For the second straight Wednesday, Mandabra and Corey Callahan raced strongly only to finish third again.
Im So Striking, a Lois and Earl Walters and E&K Stable homebred, usually races from behind, but this time trainer/driver Eddie Dennis put the So Striking-Ringside Kate gelding on the front end and he stayed there for a 1:55.3 score in the $15,000 Winners Over Trot sub-feature. Can Do (Vic Kirby) rushed down the lane to take second in front of Musclelanious (Corey Callahan).
After a win last time, Picard was overlooked at 6-1 and came through with a 1:55.1 decision in a $14,500 Winners Over Trot. Corey Callahan was in the bike for Bonuccelli Racing and his dad, trainer Nick Callahan. Picard is an altered son of SJs Caviar-Tasha Yar. Six Gun Hall (Allan Davis) had the lead until a few steps to the finish line and had to take second. Amiga Valley (Montrell Teague) was the show horse.
On a card with several longshots, Color Me Royal was the biggest. Tyler Davis, a 21-year-old son of Allan and grandson of Eddie Davis, scored his third win of the meet guiding Alesha Carrow's 32-1 shot Color Me Royal home in 1:58.2 to win a $9,000 4&5-Year-Old Trot. The RC Royalty-Watsu four-year-old held off Bold Strike (Art Stafford Jr.) at the wire. Cash The Check (Vic Kirby) was third.
Meet leading driver Corey Callahan had a “grand slam” hustling four winners.
Ross Wolfenden had two wins, both ends of the Daily Double, and Vic Kirby had two winners.
(With files from Dover Downs)