Moments Of Joy splashed her way to victory in the Mares Open Pace at Dover Downs on Wednesday night (March 31).
Moments Of Joy and Infinite Symbol A were the quickest away from the gate, but driver Victor Kirby proved the aggressor as he pulled the pocket with Moments Of Joy and seized the lead away from Infinite Symbol A through a :26.3 quarter. He continued to lead to the half in :55.3.
Scuola Hanover, the 3-2 favourite, and driver Art Stafford Jr. were willing to lay their three-race win streak on the line. They moved off the pylons from fourth uncovered and hustled up the backstretch in full attack mode. Moments Of Joy meanwhile was in full flight as they reached the three quarters in 1:22.4.
In the stretch, Moments Of Joy and Scuola Hanover matched strides to the finish. However, at the beam, Moments Of Joy dug down deep and won by a nose in 1:50. The last half was paced in :54.2 and the last quarter in :27.1 over a rain-soaked, "sloppy" racing surface.
Moments Of Joy is owned and trained by Bryan Truitt. She paid $7.00 to win.
Scuola Hanover finished a hard-fought second. Andrew Stafford trains and his brother Art Stafford Jr. drove.
Feeling Sweet finished third for Dover Downs’ leading trainer of the racing meet Joe Columbo. Mike Cole drove.
Dover Downs returns for it’s final day of the racing meet on Thursday (April 1). First-race post time is 4:30 p.m. (EDT). Harness racing returns to Harrington Raceway on April 12, with a daily first-race post time at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).
(Dover Downs)