Veteran JM Vangogh trotted to a 1:54 victory in the featured $30,000 Open Handicap at Dover Downs on Wednesday, March 24
. Tim Tetrick and Tony Morgan fashioned driving triples.
With Tony Morgan handling the reins, JM Vangogh sat second nearly three lengths off a brisk pace set by Chosen Voyageur (Corey Callahan) until reaching the final turn when the 10-year-old son of the late Earl-Queen Tut began to accelerate. By the time they reach the turn for home, JM Vangogh had taken over on the way down the lane. Mac Atack Mac closed with a rush, driven by Daryl Bier, to finish second with Black Tie and George Dennis third. Owned by trainer Paul and Wilma Chambers, JM Vangogh won for the third time in 2010 to go with two seconds in eight races. His $50,800 won this year boosts his lifetime earnings to $2,242,020.
Tim Tetrick and DC Northern teamed for a 1:56.3 victory in the sub-feature $16,500 trot. Away quickly, the New And Notable-Lydia AS gelding led throughout holding back rivals at the three quarters and the pulling away for his first win of the year for owner-trainer Trish Foulk. Vicki Gram (Art Stafford Jr.) closed within a half-length at the wire. Gurf (Callahan) was third.
Mr Genius scored a 1:53.1 victory in a $20,000 Claiming Allowance. Tim Tetrick steered the Art Brewer owned and trained Cambest-Lady Genius gelding to his second win of the year. Landfairsfirstmach (Brad Hanners) came on for second. Eviction Notice N (Mike Cole) was the show horse.
Tetrick's first winner came piloting Joanne Matthews' Badlands Sammy to a 1:53 victory in one of two $10,500 Male paces. Wynnfield Scamp (Eddie Davis Jr.) was runner-up. Itchy (Vince Copeland) was third.
WJ McDougall Racing's Richard Henry N won the other $10,500 division with Jon Roberts in the bike. The Tinted Cloud-Glenda Byrd gelding posted his first win of the year fashioning a 1:53.3 victory. Grand Duke Hanover (Frank Milby) took second in front of Walton Shaw A (Tetrick).
(With files from Dover Downs)