Driver Jack Parker Jr., trainer Carol Parker, and owner Jim Moore II swept the featured trots at Dover Downs on Tuesday, January 9, winning the $25,000 Open Handicap with Royal Becca J and a $13,000 sub feature with Nf Happenstance.
In both instances, Parker took the lead early and wired his rivals. Royal Becca J, a gelded son of RC Royalty-Becca J, strolled to a lifetime-best mile of 1:53. It was his 17th victory in his career, earning $239,045. Thereisademoninme sat second the mile, with Rock Of Cashel third.
One race earlier, NF Happenstance, after foaling a filly last spring, returned to the races in the fall, winning three straight. One of three females in the $13,000 Winners-Over trot, the eight-year-old daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Moira Hall recorded her 22nd victory and now has won $313,256 in purses. Awesome Valley and Tough Mac were second and third, respectively.
Vic Kirby guided Murmur Hanover, trained by Ed Gannon Jr. for owners Ron Sabatini and Frank Canzone, home in 1:55.2 to win the other $13,000 trot. Gillie The Kid closed to finish second. Don Dorado was third.
Frank Canzone’s Miami, one of Vic Kirby’s four wins and the first of two for trainer Ed Gannon Jr., posted a 1:54.4 victory in a $16,000 Winners trot. Amber Ella was second, with Splashed third.
The Wednesday, January 10 program at Dover Downs is headlined by a $25,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace, with Divas Image looking for her third-consecutive victory.
Racing for Stable 45, Our Horse Cents and J&T Silva stables’ Divas Image shot through the passing lane to win last week by a nose in 1:53.3. Newborn Sassy, the richest contender in the field of eight, finished second for Tim Tetrick, driving for owners CC Racing and Jo Ann Looney King. After an overland effort along the backstretch, Sweet Bobbie and Art Stafford Jr. still finished third one-and-a-half lengths off at the wire.
Also in the field is Bryan Truitt’s Enhance Your Mind, last season’s Horse of the Meet, who has two wins and two seconds in her last six starts with Vic Kirby at the controls. Breakaway Stable’s homebred Valuable Art and Corey Callahan steps up in company after three consecutive wins. Drawing the rail is Legacy Racing’s Empress Deo, to be piloted by Ross Wolfenden. Fred Hertrich’s Rocknroll Vision is in the hands of Eddie Davis Jr., while, for the third-straight time, Mike Casalino’s Nat A Virgin, leaves from an outside post.
Heading the undercard is an $18,000 Mare Winners pace featuring a pair of 2017 New York Sire Stakes standouts: World Apart, racing for South Mountain, Bay Stables, Little E and Radio Racing Stables, and Ann Hill, owned by Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Tribbett Racing. Two winners last out, Frank Chick’s Rocking BB and Barry Spedden and Josh Parker’s Cocktail Time, are also among the nine starters.
Topping a strong undercard of female pacers are a $17,000 and $16,000 contest.
Live racing is featured four days a week, Monday through Thursday with post time at 4:30 p.m.
Dover Downs now features a 50-cent Pick 5 wager starting with the 2nd race through the 6th. A late daily double is carded for the 12th and 13th races.
(With files from Dover Downs)