Versado took the lead from Stolen Car on the backstretch and pulled away for a 1:49.3 victory in Thursday’s $35,000 Preferred/Open Handicap at Dover Downs, while Mustang Art reversed tactics from last week to annex the $30,000 Delaware Special in 1:50.3.
Matt Kakaley was called upon by trainer Nick Surick to pilot the razor-sharp Versado and the Dragon Again-Beach Jenny five-year-old gelding answered with his fourth win in his last five outings for KDM Stables. Cam B Zipper closed strongly to finish second with Woodstock Hanover in his first local appearance finishing third.
Stolen Car took the early lead in a :25.4 opening panel and recorded a :53.3 half. Versado took over to lead at the three-quarters in 1:21.4 and turned on a :27.4 final quarter. Versado, trained by Nick Surick, won for 15th time this year and now has banked $260,460 in 2012 and $768,698 lifetime.
One race later, after a wire-to-wire triumph last Thursday, Ron Pierce turned patient behind Mustang Art this week waiting until heading to the three-quarters before making his winning move. The altered son of Artiscape-Paula Seelster then circled horses on the way to his tenth victory this season. Max Walton and Greg Papaleo owned Mustang Art who now has earned $158,445 of his career total $252,042 this campaign,
(Dover Downs)