Last to the three-quarter pole but first to the finish line was the Coles Notes version of what transpired for Slick Tony in Thursday’s $21,000 Open Handicap for pacers at Dover Downs.
Fresh off a winning effort versus easier foes in late January, Slick Tony was sent off at odds of 9-1 in his quest to double up. Victor Kirby was in no hurry with the George Leager trainee, who was ninth at the quarter, eighth at the half and then back to ninth at the three-quarter marker.
Numbered Account fired to the lead and served up fractions of :26.1, :54.1 and 1:22. but he lacked staying power and started to back pedal his way through the field. JJ Flynn, who was sent off as the even-money choice in the nine-horse affair, advanced first-over and had worked his way to the top at the top of the lane. Slick Tony, however, exploded off cover and steamrolled home in :27.1 to win by a nose over JJ Flynn in a sharp clocking of 1:50.3. Major Pocket A was third.
The six-year-old son of No Spin Zone-Queen Kathy won for the third time this season and for the 44th time in his career. Leager bred and owns the career winner in excess of $760,000.