Papa Ray and Cash On Delivery turned in surprise victories in the $27,500 Delaware Special Pace and $20,000 Open Trot, the pre-Thanksgiving holiday features on a chilly Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Dover Downs.
A recent purchase by Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing Of Del. from the sport’s leader, the Ron Burke Stable, Papa Ray and his regular driver, Matt Kakaley, held off a strong challenge from Believe This Bob and Montrell Teague to score a 1:52.2 victory in the top pace of the day. Overlooked at 6-1 after a win the week before, Papa Ray chalked up his eighth triumph of the year extending his seasonal earnings to 143,030 and lifetime bankroll to $223,258. Sunshine Superman closed well for Jason Lynch.
In the $20,000 Open Trot, the usual Wednesday feature race, Vince Copeland moved Cash On Delivery on the backstretch to overtake the leaders on the way to a 1:56.2 score. The David Miller-owned gelding picked up win No. 6 this season and lifted his seasonal bankroll to $113,050. The Cash Hall-Direct Dial gelding has career earnings of $248,393. Green Day (Trace Tetrick) led through the early going and held on to second in front of Can Do (Vic Kirby)
Trace Tetrick drove 12-1 Lindwood Player from off-the-pace to annex the $18,000 3&4-Year-Old Open Pace. The win was the second for trainer Dylan Davis, who owns The Panderosa-Direct Player four-year-old with Mike Casalino. Race favorite Rage N Ryan (Corey Callahan) was second with Mr Dennis (Matt Kakaley) third.
In a $15,000 Male Winners Over Pace, Harry von Knoblauch’s recent import, Texican N, went to the front and led seven rivals to a 1:53.1 victory. Ross Wolfenden drove the Peter Tritton trainee, who has an all-American pedigree from stallion Bettors Delight and the In The Pocket mare Bury My Heart. Rock On Moe (Allan Davis) was second with Mystic Desire (Matt Kakaley) the show finisher.
Blueridge Tornado won the first of two $15,000 Winners Over sub-feature trots in 1:55.3. Allan Davis drove the Softys Smarty-Anticyclone gelding for owners trainer Rosemary Smutz and Danbry Racing. Lovely Vacation (Matt Kakaley) and Baximum (Daryl Bier) were second and third respectively.
The other division was taken by Lock Tight, giving driver George Dennis a double. The 6-1 Lockkeeper-Tight End gelding beat fast-closing Dnieper (Daryl Bier) home in 1:57.4 for owner-trainer Jason Fizell. Gwally (Vic Kirby) finished third.
Up Front Ben opened the big pre-holiday program scoring his seventh victory in a row and leaving him with an 11-for-12 seasonal record. Tony Morgan drove the Eric Ell-trained, Andover Hall-Sounds Swell brown horse to a 1:56.4 success in a $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Handicap Allowance Trot. Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta own the winner of $67,500 this year and $396,826 lifetime.
Matt Kakaley drove three winners while George Dennis and Jonathan Roberts had driving doubles.
There is no live racing this Thursday in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday. The regular weekly racing schedule is: Monday through Thursday. Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. There is no live harness on Friday and Saturday. Dover Downs weekday racing starts at 4:30 p.m.
(Dover Downs)