Apache Dame, after being idle for nearly a year, won her third consecutive $27,000 Mare Open on Tuesday at Dover Downs.
In the feature race, driver Ross Wolfenden took the lead with Apache Dame from Ladyfield (Tony Morgan) early and after shaking off a prolonged challenge from Pacific Philly (Eddie Davis Jr.) along the backstretch asserted herself in the stretch to score a 1:52.3 victory. It was her third win in a row. Pacific Philly held on for second. Faithfully (Vince Copeland) was third.
Sidelined after she finished out of the money in early January 2007, Apache Dame was bred and produced a Badlands Hanover filly. She looked so good after foaling, that owners Paul McDougall and WJ McDougall Racing and trainer Peter Tritton decided to put the Apaches Fame-Amerissa mare back in training. It didn't take her long to return to feature race condition.
Odds of 22-1 and post eight did not phase Cantwell Bridge Stable's Lockes Of Love from turning back eight rivals in a 1:53.3 mile in the $23,000 Mares Jr. Open Handicap. Wolfenden drove the Blissfull Hall-Pocket Comb mare into the lead after the half and sped away from Delightful Diva (Morgan) to victory. Cruzin Foralivin N (Mike Cole) was the show horse.
Flirtwithedealer got up in the closing strides to beat Rafaella Seelster (Vic Kirby) and Dannie In Diamonds (Morgan) in a blanket finish in the $18,000 mares pace. Corey Callahan drove the Cam's Card Shark-Capri Lobell 7 year old for trainer Trevor Stafford and owners Tom Harrington and Ron Killen.
Only Money and Teague Inc.'s Betting Machine closed from far behind to notch a 1:53.4 triumph in a $15,000 pace for females. Jim Morand was the winning driver as the Bettor's Delight-Matt Machine 5 year old won for the first time in 2009. Seaswift Princess (Cole) was second in front of Wannahuckaloogi (Morgan).
Morgan took Joel and Dianne Halpern's Laugh A Year into the lead and the Badlands Hanover-Laugh A Day 4 year old set the rest of the pace in a 1:56.1 win. TSM Silverbell (Callahan) and Gabby's Love (Frank Milby) finished second and third, respectively. (Dover Downs)