Frog Juice squeezes out Dover victory

Frog Juice picked up his first win of the year while Puppetandmee N made it two wins in a row in the $16,500 and $16,000 twin features at Dover Downs on Thursday. Jim Morand had a driving triple.

 

Gary and Barbara Iles' homebred Frog Juice, one of a handful of older horses in the George Teague Stable, registered his first win of the year as Montrell Teague put the Badlands Hanover-Hair She Goes gelding into the lead and held off Arizona Liar (Vic Kirby) second, and Music Man NZ (Frank Milby), third at the wire in 1:53.3.

 

Morand scored his second of three wins guiding Puppetandmee N to victory in 1:54.4. Mindfreak (Vince Copeland) came on for second while Three Swings (Allan Davis) and Gal's Romeo (Eddie Davis Jr.) finished in a dead heat for third. Puppetandmee N is an altered son of a one-time Teague-trainee Mattuity, from Three Mothers. The 5 year old has won four of his last five starts with two seconds and a third improving his bankroll to $32,075 for owners Vicki Givens, Arlene Paisley and Sharon White. It was also the second winner on the card for trainer Wayne Givens.

 

The Delaware Standardbred Owners Association's second-leg 4- and 5-year-old preliminaries came to a close with $12,500 divisions. Melvin's Dream, acquired early this year by Ian Fromowitz, scored his second straight series win and seventh win of the year in eight starts as Tony Morgan piloted the Gamblers Dream-KG's Starlet gelding to a 1:53.4 victory. I'm Outtahair (Montrell Teague) was a strong second in front of Freedom Soldier (Ross Wolfenden).

 

Another $12,500 DSOA series prelim preceded the regular program. Royal Camelot with Bret Brittingham driving scored an easy 1:54.1 victory in the non-wagering event. Ricky Pryor and trainer Erika Paradee own the Cam's Fortune homebred. As Bad As Thunder (Eddie Davis Jr.) was second. Town Squire (Morgan) took third money.

 

The victory was the first of two for driver Brittingham, trainer Paradee and co-owner Pryor, who combined for Royal Fortune, winner of an $8,000 mares pace in 1:58.2 later in the program. (Dover Downs)