DOVER, Del.--- Wins by Sonofa Sizzle, Roddy’s Hot Again and KJ Ben completed 2nd leg Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) $20,000 preliminaries while Bandolito had just enough to win the $28,500 Delaware Special/Handicap again on Thursday, April 2 at Dover Downs.
Vic Kirby picked up where he left off Wednesday driving Sonofa Sizzle to a tight 1:51.2 victory in the first of three DSBF prelims. The Mike White-owned Life Sizzles-JK Lady Like colt edged Smoking Joey (Corey Callahan) in a stretch battle for his second straight win this year and sixth in 12 outings lifetime while earning $135,516 in purses. Seeboomook Katahdin (Allan Davis) was third.
Roddy’s Hot Again registered a lifetime best 1:52.4 triumph in the second DSBF prelim. Trainer-driver George Dennis and his wife Tina along with ASJ W Stable own the Roddy’s Bags Again-Step Lively gelding, a career win 5 while banking $91,091. Byby Landon (Tony Morgan) was second with Bobby The Greek (Tony Morgan) finishing third in his first lifetime start.
KJ Ben and Tim Tetrick made the winner’s circle in the third $20,000 event notching a 1:54 victory. Cams Director (Callahan) and Rigged To Go (Jonathan Roberts were second and third respectively. Scott Woogen bred and owns KJ Ben, a Riggins-Winsmith Karen gelding, who won for the sixth time in 11 starts and $91,783 earnings.
The top eight point-getters return in the male pace prelims return next Thursday for a $100,000 final.
For the second consecutive week Bandolito scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $28,500 Delaware Special/Handicap, this time in 1:50 flat. The battle down the lane was exceptional with owner, trainer, driver Daryl Bier and Bandolito holding a long nose lead at the wire. Jebswesternshake (Dennis) roared down the passing lane to edge strong finishing Just A Jolt (Kirby) for second money. The triumph was the fourth this season with two seconds in 11 opportunities. Lifetime, the Ponder-Sody’s Home Brew five-year-old won for the 18th time raising his bankroll to $333,935.
Four Staces, owned by Mike Casalino and trainer Dylan Davis, was at the top of his game scoring a 1:50.3 conquest in the $17,000 475-Year-Old Open/Handicap pace. The win was one of four for meet leader Corey Callahan driver of the Rocknroll Hanover-Miss Stacee gelding who won for the fourth time this year while in the money in all eight starts. He has won $41,135 in 2015 and $103,174 lifetime. A 26-1 shot Cabbie’s Delight (Jim Morand) got up for second in front of 30-1 Major Bucks (Toby Lynch Jr.).
Vic Keeler’s Mister Truth, handled by Tony Morgan, got up in the stretch to catch Bobbies Power Play (Kirby) for a 1:51.4 victory, his second in-a-row. Al altered son of Total Truth-Miss Aj Ponda, Mister Truth won his fifth in 11 races this campaign and now has $93,764 in his career. Little Ben (Tetrick) was the show horse.
Corey Callahan and Kirby had four wins each. Tim Tetrick, Tony Morgan and trainer Dylan Davis had doubles.
The battle for leading trainer comes down to the final week with defending champion Dylan Davis at 61 and runner-up, Doug Lewis with 58 winners.
No live racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Next week is the last four days of the 2014-2015 Dover Downs season featuring a $100,000 DSBF Final every day. Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 9, closing day, will offer a ‘two-for-one’ special in the Winners Circle Restaurant. There is no charge for admission or for parking at Dover Downs. Harness and Thoroughbred Simulcasting opens daily at 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs Race and Sports Book in the Colonnade. There is no charge for parking or admission at Dover Downs.