Bella Artiste ($3.20) benefited from an early speed duel and won the $73,929 Bally’s Dover Late Closer Final for three-year-old at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday, April 2.
Sparks were flying early when Little Miss Peyton (Corey Callahan) parked out Tilted Crown (Russell Foster) through the opening quarter in a blistering 26. Tilted Crown was able to ease off of the accelerator and grabbed a pocket trip behind a headstrong Little Miss Peyton, with the half reached in :55.2. The 3-5 choice Bella Artiste gathered momentum for driver Jim Morand and rushed first over before the three-quarters in pursuit of Little Miss Peyton.
Little Miss Peyton continued on a tenuous lead as Bella Artiste drew alongside. The Les Givens-trained stablemates raced on even turns passing the three quarters in 1:24.3, but the blistering early fractions took their toll on pacesetter Little Miss Peyton as she became leg weary late. Bella Artiste roared home to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Little Miss Peyton finished second and Tilted Crown was third.
Bella Artiste (Badlands Hanover - Arts Bid) is owned by Nanticoke Racing Inc. and Chad Tate from Seaford, Del. along with Arthur Feeney from Edwater, Md. She's perfect in four seasonal starts, sporting nine lifetime wins and more than $175,300 in earnings.
The $35,714 Mares Open Handicap Pace was won by Elegant A and driver Tim Tetrick, wire-to-wire in 1:52 for owner Pollack Racing LLC and trainer Jeff Cullipher. Disturbed Hanover finished second with Melody Hanover in third.
Bally’s Dover boasts an outstanding racing card on Thursday, April 3, the final day of live harness racing for the meet. There is a $51,000 USD Bally’s Dover Late Closer Final for three-year-old male pacers, and Itsrockandroll A takes on seven other competitors in the $25,000 USD Open Handicap Pace.
Thursday’s post time at Bally’s Dover is 4:30 p.m.
(with files from Bally's Dover)