Im Still Here, a maiden no more, won the $69,324 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Late Closer at Bally’s Dover on Thursday, March 28.
Captain Pete left quickest off the gate and was parked to the quarter by Papas Son in :27.3 over a sloppy race surface. Beat Cop, who won eight consecutive races heading into the race, settled in third and moved under a full head of steam past the quarter.
A fired-up Captain Pete, the 1-9 betting favourite, would not yield and parked out Beat Cop to the half in :56.1. The two combatants matched strides at the three-quarters in 1:24.3. Meanwhile, Papas Son enjoyed the pocket trip and waited along the pylons to strike. Better Dig Two followed the action second-over and Im Still Here was shadowing third-over.
At the top of the stretch, driver Montrell Teague dove down along the pylons, saving ground and raging with pace. It proved to be the winning strategy as Im Still Here won by a nose in 1:55.3. He paid a whopping $151.80 for the win. Papas Son was second and Shocking Truth finished third.
Im Still Here (Emeritus Maximus-Allisa Page) is owned by Cindy Englebach-Callahan and Walter Callahan, both from Delaware. Callahan trains and Montrell Teague drove the winner.
The $37,162 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace was won by Maximus Miki in 1:50.3. Penzance Hanover cut the mile and posted fractions of :26.3 to the opening quarter and :55.2 to the half. Maximus Miki moved first-over, challenging Penzance Hanover down the backstretch. Energetic Hanover followed second-over and Muskateer Hanover sat in the pocket.
Penzance Hanover and Maximus Mike raced side by side through a :27.3 standoff to the three-quarters in 1:23 flat. Maximus Hanover powered past Penzance Hanover in the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.3. He paid an even $4 to win. Energetic Hanover was second and Muskateer Hanover was third.
Maximus Miki (Always B Miki-Beach Gal) is owned by John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey. Thomas Cancelliere trains and Andrew McCarthy drove the winner.
Tim Tetrick was the leading driver of the Bally’s Dover meet, scoring 183 wins during the course of the meet. Anthony Morgan followed in second with 135 and Corey Callahan was third with 134.
Chuck Crissman Jr. was the meet’s leading trainer with 97 wins followed by Joe Columbo from the George Dennis Stable with 89.
JoAnn Looney-King’s Dreaming Of Lou was the USHWA horse of the Bally’s Dover harness meet. The five-year-old son of Sweet Lou had 16 starts with seven wins and 10 top-two finishes, banking more than $125,000 during Dover's season.
The Bally’s Dover live harness racing meet concluded for the season. Harrington Raceway begins its live harness meet on Monday, April 8.
(With files from Bally's Dover)