It was a longshot player’s dream come true Thursday at Dover Downs as favourites faltered in the featured events leaving the door wide-open for some massive upsets.
George Napolitano, Jr. worked out a perfect, two-hole trip for Late Mail N in the $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap, and the Michael Hall trainee didn’t let it go to waste.
Late Mail N pocketed up behind Sicily who led the group through fractions of :26.2, :55.3 and 1:23. Slick Tony put pressure on that leader through the middle stages of the mile, but it was Late Mail N putting heavy pressure on the leader in the late stages. Late Mail N used a :27.2 closing panel to win by a half-length margin over Sicily in 1:50.4. Heavily favoured Slick Tony was third.
The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Lendusaquid, who was sent off at odds of 28-1, is now a three-time winner this season and a 13-time winner to date for the Claim To Fame LLC of Dagsboro, DE. The gelding has banked $234,840 to date.
Bo Mach used an identical trip to capture the $25,000 Open, and he did so at odds of 38-1 for driver Corey Callahan and trainer Dylan Davis.
Bo Mach cut the quarter in :26.4 before giving way to Larry Karr – the horse, not the owner. Larry Karr carved out middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:23.4 before coming under attack from Bo Mach in the lane. Bo Mach fired home in :27.1 to win by a neck over Larry Karr in a career-best clocking of 1:51.1. Billy Badger N rallied from off the speed to finish third.
The four-year-old son of Mach Three-Magnify This won for the eighth time this season for owners Howard Taylor and Thomas Lazzaro. The 12-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings to $228,599 with the win.