Jeremes Sweetheart surprises in mares open at Dover

Jeremes Sweetheart had just enough to edge past race-favorite Monochromatic in the closing stride to pull a 5-1 surprise in the $23,000 Mares Open Handicap on Monday, March 4 at Dover Downs.

Ron Pierce sat an unhurried second as Monochromatic, and Corey Callahan, set the tempo thorough a :26.3 opening quarter, :54.3 half and 1:23 third quarter fractions with Mystra (Brad Hanners) and Shine N Shimmer (Eric Carlson) in the challenge on the backstretch and around the top of the final turn. Monochromatic seemed still strong with Alexachase and Bret Brittingham getting in high gear around mid-stretch. Hall of Famer Pierce then sent Jeremes Sweetheart into full flight during a :27.4 last panel just making it to the wire first by a whisker in the 1:50.4 mile.

It was another win for the red-hot trio of owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta and trainer Eric Ell. After running off three straight wins coming into the New Year, the now four-year-old daughter of Jereme’s Jet-Fox Valley Evanna had a second, third and two fourths  during February before re-entering the winner’s circle with a new lifetime record. Monochromatic and Alexachase had to settle for second and third respectively. The win was the 10th of her career in 29 races and she now has won $199,767 in purses.

Chancey Lady became the first $2-million winner to win an overnight event at the track as Corey Callahan drove the eight-year-old by Camluck-Art Of Design to a 1:51.4 score in the $16,000 Mares Winners-Over Handicap pace. The  Josh Green-trainee took the lead in front of the grandstand and completed her winning mile holding off Lorrie Please (Eric Carlson) second and Fleeting Flirt N (Ron Pierce) third. Baron Racing owns Chancey Lady who won for the second time six starts this year. She is now a 43-race winner and raised her bankroll to $204,952.

Another well-supported female pacer, stakes winner Jerseylicious, racing for Pam Curran and Legacy Racing Of Del., kept her 2013 record unblemished as Corey Callahan steered an easy 1:53.2 victory in a $10,000 3,4&5-Year-old Filly and Mare pace. Her only win of last season came winning the $263,800 Sweetheart at the Meadowlands. Currently her career earnings are $204,406 for four wins in 10 starts with four seconds and a third. Little Miss Woohoo (Tony Morgan) was second in front of American Ginger (Vic Kirby) the show finisher.

Corey Callahan continued on his multiple win campaign with five winners. Ron Pierce and George Dennis had three wins each.