Boots Place returns to Dover winner's circle

After a second-place finish last week, Boots Place returned to the winner's circle for the third time in four weeks in the $30,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover Downs on Tuesday.

 

Eric Goodell got Boots Place away sitting second behind front-pacing Apache Dame until deep stretch when the Park Place-Put The Boots 5 year old closed along the inside to score a 1:51.3 lifetime best mile in the week's top distaff event. Bernard Segebade owns the winner of four of eight races this year with two seconds and a third banking $75,040 in purses. Apache Dame and Ross Wolfenden was a game second with Boca Hanover and Frank Milby third.

 

Kellytuck Sophie closed strongly for Jon Roberts to win the $20,000 Mares sub-feature pace with a 1:53.1 performance. Perfect M Forever (Goodell) led from the start to the next to last step. Itz Cherry Ripe N (Ron Pierce) just got up to finish third. Kellytuck Sophie, owned by M&W and Graham Grace stables and trainer Bib Roberts, won for the first time in two months and had dropped down from the Open class. (Dover Downs)