Angel Nation rated off the pace and stormed home to win the Open/Preferred Handicap Trot at Dover Downs on Tuesday night (March 29).
At the start of the race, four trotters left in unison and battled to the quarter. As the dust cleared, JL Cruze parked Swan In Motion to the quarter in :27. Swan In Motion continued on the lead and led the field to the half in :56.1.
Northern Express and driver Russell Foster sprinted down the backstretch and put away Swan In Motion at the three quarters in 1:25 Angel Nation and driver Andy Miller were in a perfect second-over position and cleared Swan In Motion for the lead. However danger was in the form of a late surge by Angel Nation.
In the deep stretch, Angel Nation drew clear of the field and won by a half length. He won in 1:54 and paid $23.80 for the win.
Angel Nation is owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc of N.J. and Ted MacDonnell of Ontario, Canada. Julie Miller trained and Andy Miller drove.
Northern Express battled gamely and finished second for trainer Arty Foster Jr.. Russell Foster drove. Judge Bob finished third for trainer Megan Roberts. Montrell Teague drove. The 4/5 betting favourite JL Cruze finished fifth.
Art Stafford Jr. won four races on the betting card. Rivers won the $51,350 late-closing series final. The race was for DSBF eligible three-year-old colt and geldings trotters. Rivers won by 2-1/2 lengths as the 1/9 betting favourite in 1:58.2 for trainer Nick Callahan and driver Corey Callahan.
Canoe Trip was second and Wolf Pack Russ was third, who also is trained by Nick Callahan.
Tomorrow nights 12th race feature is the $32,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace. It features Shes Pukka N and Majorca N.
Post Time on Wednesday (March 30) at Dover Downs is 4:30 p.m. (EDT).
(Dover Downs)