Thursday Harness Preview for 4/10/2014
by Ted Black
In lieu of the fact that Thursday evening marks the end of the extended fall-spring meet at Dover Downs that began with a bevy of Matron Stakes eliminations and finals last November, the focus this evening will be exclusively on the 2013-14 farewell program at the Delaware five-eighths mile oval.
In the opening race on the Thursday card, Ideal American (George Dennis) will undoubtedly be the odds-on favorite since the Kevin Lare trainee has won 6 of 8 starts and taken a mark of 1:52.1. His seven rivals have a combined sum of six wins this year. But the value play is Terror Date (Allan Davis), who owns a 2-3-2 slate and 1:52.4 mark from 12 starts this year and should be 6-1 or so at post time.
Four races later in the fifth, a non-winners of four races lifetime event, give Electrify (Corey Callahan) one last chance to attain his first win 11 starts on the season. In a group that includes Thetruthaboutdavid who sports a solid 3-4-0 slate for the father-son trainer-driver tandem of George Teague, Jr. and Montrell Teague, Electrify has enough early speed to work out a good trip and should be in an ideal spot turning for home this evening.
One race later in the sixth, a non-winners of $12,000 last six starts class for older pacers, look for Mr Dennis (David Miller) to finally garner his first of the season. Second four times and third on three other occasions from 12 starts this season for trainer Nick Surick, Mr Dennis has been a model of consistency this winter and looks primed to depart the scene with his first tally of the year.
One race later in the seventh, a winners over $12,000 last six condition for older pacers, look for Lollipop Kid (Callahan) and Manhattan Rusty (Pierce) to control the tempo from the outset and complete the exacta, while longshot Cams Art merits a good chance to round out the triple. Last week in the fastest mile of the meet and one of the fastest in track history, Lollipop Kid cut wicked fractions and then settled for third as Bandolito scored in an eye-opening 1:48 performance.
One race later in the Delaware Special, look for Nova Artist (Allan Davis) to notch his second straight victory in the local feature for Delaware-owned pacers. Owned and trained by the first family of Delaware racing, trainer Eddie Davis and wife, Kathy, and driven by their son, Allan, Nova Artist has been a stellar performer since the outset of his career and should duplicate last week's 1:50.2 score.
Then in the very next race on the card, look for Show Stopping (Pierce) to regain his winning ways in the non-winners of five races lifetime class. Sporting a solid 3-3-2 slate and 1:54.2 mark from 10 starts this year, Show Stopping will be the distant second choice in a race where Casimir Lawman will be the even-money favorite. But the Ron Dixon, Jr. trainee should be primed for the upset.
In the featured, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final for three-year-old colt pacers, Elite Awards (George Dennis) has the rail and will be the 2-5 favorite after winning his first three starts of the season for trainer David Rearic. But three rivals will be eager to unseat him.
Casino Bags Carlo has won both of his starts this year for trainer-driver Vince Copeland, Go Big Spinder owns a 4-1-2 slate and 1:54.4 mark for owner-breeder-trainer blacksmith Leigh Louthan, while Art Retreat was a sharp 1:54 winner last week for trainer Jeff Clark and he was second to Elite Awards one start earlier. All three will be poised to pounce if Elite Awards does not fire his best shot in the final.
One race later in the 12th, look for Chesapeake Bay (Miller) to post a mild upset in the winners over $45,000 lifetime class for younger pacers. The talented Ronda Galko trainee has an abundance of early speed and should be able to dictate the tempo from post three this evening. Dont be surprised if Cruijff sits the pocket trip and completes the exacta.
Two races later in the 14th, the other half of the split, competitive winners over $45,000 lifetime class, look for the two winningest pacers in the group, Spinfiniti and Sea Harrier, to form the exacta. Spinfiniti has won 8 of 11 starts this year for trainer Josh Green, while Sea Harrier owns a 6-2-0 slate and 1:51.2 mark from nine starts this season. Varsity Hanover, who ended Fire In The Belly's win streak, could round out the triple at a nice price.
In lieu of the fact that Thursday evening marks the end of the extended fall-spring meet at Dover Downs that began with a bevy of Matron Stakes eliminations and finals last November, the focus this evening will be exclusively on the 2013-14 farewell program at the Delaware five-eighths mile oval.
In the opening race on the Thursday card, Ideal American (George Dennis) will undoubtedly be the odds-on favorite since the Kevin Lare trainee has won 6 of 8 starts and taken a mark of 1:52.1. His seven rivals have a combined sum of six wins this year. But the value play is Terror Date (Allan Davis), who owns a 2-3-2 slate and 1:52.4 mark from 12 starts this year and should be 6-1 or so at post time.
Four races later in the fifth, a non-winners of four races lifetime event, give Electrify (Corey Callahan) one last chance to attain his first win 11 starts on the season. In a group that includes Thetruthaboutdavid who sports a solid 3-4-0 slate for the father-son trainer-driver tandem of George Teague, Jr. and Montrell Teague, Electrify has enough early speed to work out a good trip and should be in an ideal spot turning for home this evening.
One race later in the sixth, a non-winners of $12,000 last six starts class for older pacers, look for Mr Dennis (David Miller) to finally garner his first of the season. Second four times and third on three other occasions from 12 starts this season for trainer Nick Surick, Mr Dennis has been a model of consistency this winter and looks primed to depart the scene with his first tally of the year.
One race later in the seventh, a winners over $12,000 last six condition for older pacers, look for Lollipop Kid (Callahan) and Manhattan Rusty (Pierce) to control the tempo from the outset and complete the exacta, while longshot Cams Art merits a good chance to round out the triple. Last week in the fastest mile of the meet and one of the fastest in track history, Lollipop Kid cut wicked fractions and then settled for third as Bandolito scored in an eye-opening 1:48 performance.
One race later in the Delaware Special, look for Nova Artist (Allan Davis) to notch his second straight victory in the local feature for Delaware-owned pacers. Owned and trained by the first family of Delaware racing, trainer Eddie Davis and wife, Kathy, and driven by their son, Allan, Nova Artist has been a stellar performer since the outset of his career and should duplicate last week's 1:50.2 score.
Then in the very next race on the card, look for Show Stopping (Pierce) to regain his winning ways in the non-winners of five races lifetime class. Sporting a solid 3-3-2 slate and 1:54.2 mark from 10 starts this year, Show Stopping will be the distant second choice in a race where Casimir Lawman will be the even-money favorite. But the Ron Dixon, Jr. trainee should be primed for the upset.
In the featured, $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final for three-year-old colt pacers, Elite Awards (George Dennis) has the rail and will be the 2-5 favorite after winning his first three starts of the season for trainer David Rearic. But three rivals will be eager to unseat him.
Casino Bags Carlo has won both of his starts this year for trainer-driver Vince Copeland, Go Big Spinder owns a 4-1-2 slate and 1:54.4 mark for owner-breeder-trainer blacksmith Leigh Louthan, while Art Retreat was a sharp 1:54 winner last week for trainer Jeff Clark and he was second to Elite Awards one start earlier. All three will be poised to pounce if Elite Awards does not fire his best shot in the final.
One race later in the 12th, look for Chesapeake Bay (Miller) to post a mild upset in the winners over $45,000 lifetime class for younger pacers. The talented Ronda Galko trainee has an abundance of early speed and should be able to dictate the tempo from post three this evening. Dont be surprised if Cruijff sits the pocket trip and completes the exacta.
Two races later in the 14th, the other half of the split, competitive winners over $45,000 lifetime class, look for the two winningest pacers in the group, Spinfiniti and Sea Harrier, to form the exacta. Spinfiniti has won 8 of 11 starts this year for trainer Josh Green, while Sea Harrier owns a 6-2-0 slate and 1:51.2 mark from nine starts this season. Varsity Hanover, who ended Fire In The Belly's win streak, could round out the triple at a nice price.
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