For the third consecutive week, Dancin Yankee won the $30,000 Preferred Pace, and as last week, All Stienam took the $27,500 Delaware Special, both conditioned by Josh Green, at Dover Downs on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Ron Pierce made a strong move from fourth to first on the backstretch with Dancin Yankee and the pacer then romped to his fifth straight win of the 2014 season, a 1:50 mile on a sloppy track, for owners Rich Lombardo and Baron Racing. The Yankee Cruiser-Dancewiththebest six-year-old has been a convincing winner in each race during the streak. For the third straight time, Texican N (Ross Wolfenden) had to settle for second-place honours. Adventure Bound (Vic Kirby) finished third in the field reduced to five starters after Special Forces was scratched.
As last Thursday, All Stienam came from off-the-pace to win the $27,500 Delaware Special, this time in 1:52.4 with Ross Wolfenden driving the Tell All-Odds On Stienam gelding for JJ&M Stable and Green Racing. Sunshine Superman (Toby Lynch), the leader, and Fool Like A Fool (George Dennis), alongside, cut out the fractions until turning down the lane. All Stienam, as he did a week ago, flashed down the lane for his fourth win to go along with a second this season. Feel Like A Fool finished a game second while Full Of Sand (Corey Callahan) edged Sunshine Superman for third. Program favourite Mustang Art was scratched.
Lindwood Player and Corey Callahan came on strong to win the $17,500 4&5-Year-Old Open in 1:52. The five-year-old son of The Panderosa-Direct Player is owned by Mike Casilino and trainer Dylan Davis. Ice Scraper (Roger Plante) was second in front of Just Bettor (Trace Tetrick). A Sweet Ride and Rage N Ryan did not start.
A Cool Card closed strongly to score a 1:51.2 victory in a $15,500 Male Winners Over Pace. It marked Callahan’s second win on the card. Nick Surick trains the Cole Muffler-Annie Youre A Card gelding for Ken Duffy, Paymag and Shim Racing and Mystical Marker Farms. Artists Rally (Trace Tetrick) and Beavercreek Artist (Pierce) were second and third, respectively. Dirty Devil was scratched.
In $15,000 races, Jim Whalen’s 8-1 Varsity Hanover (Kim Vincent) won in 1:53.4 and Crissman Inc.’s Fancy Colt (Tony Morgan) scored in 1:52.4.
Ross Wolfenden and Ron Pierce drove three winners while Trace Tetrick, Corey Callahan, trainers Josh Green and Les Givens and owner Nanticoke Racing had doubles.
Horsemen acclaimed Track Superintendent Jerry Clifton for his preparation of the track for racing following a six-inch snowfall.
(Dover Downs)