Goldberg struck gold in the final $20,000 Open Handicap Pace of the year at Dover Downs, using a :26.4 last quarter to repel Itsrockandroll A in the Thursday night (Dec. 31) feature.
Goldberg left quickly from post five and was able to wrestle the lead away from speedsters Thatswhatisaid N and Late Mail N in a :27.1 first quarter. Montrell Teague was then able to throttle Goldberg's speed down through a :56.1 half. At the five-eighths marker, 6-5 favourite Itsrockandroll A and Corey Callahan moved out from fourth and charged after the leader, working to within two lengths of Goldberg's 1:24 three-quarters split. But while Itsrockandroll A continued to gain, Goldberg held firm in deep stretch and won by a half length in 1:50.4. Itsrockandroll A fought hard but had to settle for second; Trojan Banner (Tim Tetrick) rode cover to pick up third.
Brenda Teague trains Goldberg, a four-year-old son of Mr Wiggles, for MST Racing Inc.
Live racing resumes at Dover Downs on Monday (Jan. 4); post time is 4:30 p.m.
(with files from Dover Downs)