Wind Of The North will make his Dover Downs debut in the track’s $20,000 Open Handicap Trot on Wednesday, February 22.
Wind Of The North will face last week’s winner, Frost Free Hanover, and Tough Mac in the field of seven. Post time is 4:30 p.m.
After having bested former Hambletonian winner Market Square by one length last week in a qualifying race, Sean Bier will drive Joann Dombeck’s Wind Of The North in his first start this year. Frost Free Hanover, owned by Rich Polluci, won last week’s Open with Vic Kirby driving. This time Mike Casalino’s Tough Mac and Corey Callahan will move from Post 8 to the middle of the lineup. Tough Mac will be searching for his third win in his last four outings.
Leigh Raymer and John Whitby’s Buddy Hally, driven by Yannick Gingras, made an untimely break last week in his first Open appearance. Uva Hanover – reined by Tony Morgan for owners Martin Sternberg and Stake Your Claim – heads the rest of the fast field. The only female starter, Bill Cantrell’s Classic Belisima with Art Stafford Jr., a winner of two of her last four races, drew the rail. Lois and Earl Walters and E&K Stable’s Im So Striking and Eddie Dennis will start in Post 2.
Mike Casalino’s Earls Speeder (Callahan), with a win and second in his last two outings, has drawn Post 1 in the $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Winners-Over trot sub feature. Richard Gutnick and TLP Stables’ Moonlight Cocktail (Morgan), a recent four-race win streaker, must star from the outside Post 8. The steady Bluebird Reverend (Montrell Teague) races for trainer Bob Reeser, Dan Dennis, Jay Johannsen and Holly Case. Celebrity Pegasus (Stafford Jr.) turned in an impressive win last start for Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms.
Bob Shahan’s Machuca (Morgan) is due for better. There is plenty of speed on the outside with Bobby Glassmeyer’s Tymal Signature (Jonathan Roberts), Steel Reserve, owned by driver Vic Kirby and Chris Giaccio and Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing’s Go Byem (Jim Morand).
(Dover Downs)