Warm temperatures set the stage for fast races headed by Bettorhaveanother scoring the fastest clocking for a female pacer this year, 1:50.3, to win the $25,000 Mares Open at Dover Downs and notching her third straight victory on Wednesday (Feb. 21).
Scandalicious (Jonathan Roberts) and Sweet Bobbie (Art Stafford Jr.) engaged in a head-to-heat duel for the lead with Sweet Bobbie leading at the quarter in :25.4 and :54.1 at the half. After a 1:22 three quarters, Valuable Art (Corey Callahan) began a challenge with Bettorhaveanother and Tony Morgan right behind. In a four-horse dash down the lane Morgan’s effort was good enough for a three-quarter length triumph to take a new career mark. Scandalicious was second with Valuable Art third.
Ron Burke trains Bettorhaveanother (Bettors Delight - Katie My Girl) for Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing Stable. The six-year-old mare has three wins after two seconds in five 2018 appearances while boasting $41,625 seasonal earnings. It was her 24th career win and lifted her lifetime bankroll over the $300,000 mark.
A 10-1 shot, Josh Parker and Nanticoke Racing’s Bad Lightning (Roberts) overtook front-pacing Stormtracker (Tim Tetrick) nearing the wire in 1:51.3 to win the $17,000 Mares sub-feature. The Badlands Hanover-Malocchio five-year-old won for the second time in-a-row and third in her last four outings. Roselily (Stafford Jr.) finished third.
Corner Table was the longshot winner on the card. Off at 37-1, Stafford drove the Dragon Again-Macks Table mare now five to her first win of the year to a new lifetime record of 1:52.1 for owners Ed Gold and trainer Ben Stafford. Rollatown (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up with Shesarocker (Vic Kirby) the show horse.
Tony Morgan had three winners, Jonathan Roberts, Art Stafford Jr. and Montrell Teague had two wins apiece.
Major Uptrend puts a two-race sub-1:50 win streak on the line facing Christen Me N, Starznheaven, Sicily and Missile J in a seven-horse field, for this week's $27,500 Preferred/Open Thursday.
Live harness racing is featured Monday through Thursday weekly with a 4:30 p.m. post time.
(with files from Dover)