Feeling Sweet took full advantage of the open stretch on her way to a 1:53 win in Wednesday night's (March 9) $25,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover Downs.
Heavy rain forced a one-hour delay after race three, but the track was upgraded to good well in time for the First State's weekly distaff feature. Shes Pukka N used her usual early speed out of post 7 to clear Feeling Sweet through a :27.2 quarter before yielding to 3-5 favourite Soho Burning Love A with a lap to go. Soho Burning Love A rolled through the half in :55 before facing a fist-over push from Intheskyrocket A, who charged first-over up the backstretch. At the top of the lane, Soho Burning Love A began to tire, prompting Tony Morgan to angle Shes Pukka N off the pylons and opening up the inside lane for Feeling Sweet and Mike Cole to dart through and win by a neck. Shes Pukka N was second; Anneke (Pat Berry) emerged out of traffic for third. Soho Burning Love A faded to last after being engulfed in upper stretch.
Joe Columbo trains Feeling Sweet, a five-year-old Sweet Lou mare who paid $17.60 to win, for George & Tina Dennis Racing.
Thursday's (March 10) card is headlined by Bettor Memories, Shoobee Doo A and Penzance Hanover lining up in the $25,000 Open/Preferred Pace, along with a quartet of carryovers: $903 in the Pick-3, $2,215 in the Pick-4, $4,391 in the Pick-5, and $2,746 in the pentafecta. First post time is 4:30 p.m.
(with files from Dover Downs)