Veteran Tirade Hanover ended Tough Mac’s win streak, Razor Ramone extended his own streak to four straight and Eternal Prince equalled his lifetime record in the top three trots on the Wednesday, February 4 program at Dover Downs.
In the $18,000 Open Trot, Tirade Hanover took the lead at the start for Vic Kirby and the Crazed-Teagarden Hanover gelding was not to be caught on the sway to a 1:53 victory in the feature. Tough Mac rolled out of post eight trying for the front, but had to find room third on the first turn. Corey Callahan pulled Tough Mac out to challenge for the lead through the backstretch, but was unable to get to within a half-length of Tirade Hanover.
The five-year-old is owned by Stephen Moss, Harold and Helane Solomon and trainer Leigh Raymer. The win was his second in the last three, and 22nd success in his career, mounting lifetime earnings to $632,430.
Tough Mac, second, ended a three-race win streak. Im So Striking came between horses for Eddie Dennis for third-place. Wind Of The North was scratched.
Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta’s Razor Ramone continued to streak for red-hot trainer Eric Ell. Ron Pierce piloted the Kadabra-Oaklea Rae four-year-old to his fourth consecutive win and fifth in his last six in one of two $14,000 4&5-Year-Old Winners Over Trot sub-features. Pierce took Razor Ramone right to the top and won easily in 1:54.2. Derby (Allan Davis) used the passing lane to edge Classic Belisima (Callahan) for second by a nose. Classic Belisima entered the race with a four-race win streak.
In a 1:58.1 photo finish, Eternal Prince and George Dennis used the passing lane to nose out longshot Up Front N Crazy (Roger Plante) in the other $14,000 trot for young horses. Tommy N Dakota Stables, trained by Paula Spencer, own Eternal Prince, who won for the third time in his last five opportunities. Keep It Sweet (Callahan) was a game third.
Roger Plante drove the biggest price winner, 69-1 Juanna Be The Man, owned by Gregg and Tom Morris, to a 1:57 upset in an $11,800 trot for young horses. A $2 win ticket paid $140.60. The 6-3 exacta returned $1,494 and 6-3-4 trifecta returned $4,262. A superfecta of 6-3-4-1 was good for $10,586.40.
Pierce led all drivers with four wins while Callahan, Vic Kirby, Jonathan Roberts and trainer Eric Ell had doubles.
(With files from Dover Downs)