Driver Pat Berry achieved a major milestone by recording his 5,000th career victory at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday, March 11.
The 50-year-old Berry gave Showmemagic a perfect pocket journey in the second race and sent the six-year-old daughter of Lazarus N-Show The World out in the stretch to chase down the leader, and she vaulted to a length victory in 1:53.4. Little Miss Peyton (Brandon Givens) was second, followed by Oakwood Coral Ir (Tim Tetrick). Bobby Glassmeyer owns and trains the winning mare.
Berry started driving as a 17-year-old, racing at the county fairs in Illinois. In 1995, he began driving full time at Maywood Park, Sportsman's Park, Balmoral Park and Fairmount Park. Later, Berry and his wife Traci, who also trains and owns horses, left Illinois for the east coast. They settled in Delaware and race mainly at Dover and Harrington Raceway. Berry scored his 5,000th win in his 45,318th start. He has recorded more than $54.6 million in earnings.
After the race, Berry noted his major influences, saying "My family, especially my uncle Randy Jacobs, were a big influence on my racing career." He also counted Glassmeyer among his influences, adding that "It was great that I won with a Bobby Glassmeyer horse." Lastly, he cited Traci, saying "She’s been with me throughout our journey."
Berry got right back to business after his milestone moment and later captured the feature on the card, the $27,397 Fillies and Mares Winners Over Select Handicap Pace with Racin Hungry.
In the top pace, the outside trio of Disturbed Hanover (Barton Dalious), Racin Hungry and Jett Propelled (Jason Thompson) left the quickest, with the latter pushing ahead of Disturbed Hanover on the first turn while Racin Hungry dropped in third. Jett Propelled soared to the quarter in :26, then backed down the tempo to the half in :55.2. Square Deal (Tony Morgan), the 4-5 favourite, angled off the rail as the field turned for the backstretch and began to gather momentum, carrying Ballast (Tim Tetrick) into a perfect second-over striking position.
At three-quarters in 1:22.3, Square Deal drew alongside Jett Propelled, whose three-race win streak was in jeopardy. Both pacing mares squared off, racing side-by-side as they turned for home and into the stretch. Racin Hungry, meanwhile, swerved three-wide off the pylons on the last turn, and she closed like a freight train down the lane alongside Ballast. Racin Hungry out-sprinted that rival in deep-stretch and nabbed Square Deal and Jett Propelled at the line to win by a head in 1:51.3. Square Deal reached up for second over Jett Propelled, with Ballast a neck back in fourth.
Racin Hungry is now 24-for-78 lifetime. The six-year-old daughter of Stay Hungry-Four Starzz Meliss is trained by Traci Berry for Glenn Goller and Stephen Demeter. She returned $12.40 to win.
(With files from Dover Downs)