Dover, DE---Papa Ray rushed along the backstretch to challenge leader 34-1 Nova Artist before making the lead on the final turn on the way to a 1:52.2 victory over a ‘good’ track on Thursday (Dec. 11) to win the $25,000 Delaware Special at Dover Downs.
Eddie Davis Jr. was at the controls as Papa Ray won the week’s top pace for the second time in his last four outings for trainer Wayne Givens and owners Reg Hazzard II and Legacy Racing. So Take That (Montrell Teague) closed fast to edge Mustang Art (Corey Callahan), second and third respectively.
Papa Ray, a five-year-old Village Jolt-Liamatters horse, won for the seventh time this season, with eight seconds and eight thirds earning $133,37 3 and $356,628 lifetime.
Handsome Henry K won for the second straight time fashioning a 1:51 score in a $16,000 3, 4&5-Year-Old Open. It was Corey Callahan’s fourth of five wins and second victory for owner Howard Taylor and trainer Doug Lewis. Millenium Wheel (Jason Lynch) streaked along the passing lane to finish second. People Are Crazy (George Dennis) finished third.
Owner Taylor, trainer Lewis and driver Callahan struck again with a 1:53.1 triumph by Cam B Zipper, a Camibest-Kellycrombie gelding, in a $13,000 Winner’s Over pace. SB Mikes Hot Beach (Sean Bier) took second money with Feel Like A Fool (Allan Davis) the show finishers.
Art Stafford took Framed Art right to the front and never looked back en route to a 1:52.2 victory in a $15,500 4&5-Year-Old Open. Varsity Hanover (Tony Morgan) was next with BJ’s Rambeau (Callahan) third. Trainer-driver duo Art and Andrew Stafford own the Artiscape-Lo Gophobia four-year-old.
Callahan’s fifth winning drive came guiding Mike Casalino and trainer Dylan Davis’ Four Staces home in 1:53.2 to win a 3, 4&5-Year-Old Winners Over pace. It was the third consecutive win for the Rocknroll Hanover-Miss Stacee sophomore gelding.
Trainer Jim King’s third win on the card came when Tom Kemp’s Fire In The Belly, with Vic Kirby, notched a 1:53 score, his eighth win of the year, in a $14,000 Male pace for young horses. Jet Blue Miracle (Sean Bier) was second in front of Maximum Terror (Ben Stafford Jr.).
Callahan’s five-win slam was followed by driving doubles by Trace Tetrick, Vic Kirby and Tony Morgan.
There is no live racing Friday and Saturday. Sunday racing resumes at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.
There is no charge for parking or admission when visiting Dover Downs. Leading harness and thoroughbred simulcasts are featured from 12 noon until 12 midnight daily in the Dover Downs Race and Sports Book.