Mandabra, Awsome Valley win feature trots at Dover

Mandabra made it two wins in-a-row while Awsome Valley won wire-to-wire in the top two trots on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Dover Downs.

Corey Callahan left fast driving Mandabra and had the lead by the opening quarter. From there it was follow the leader to a 1:55 victory in the $16,000 Winners-Over trot. The Kadabra-Beautiful Mind gelding won for the second straight week and third time in his last five outings all on the front end. Nick Callahan trains and owns the winner with son Shaun Callahan and Charles Bonuccelli. The victory lifts his seasonal earrings to $31,130 and $211,145 lifetime. I’m So Striking followed program favorite Sun Of A Victory heading into the clubhouse turn until deep stretch where driver Eddie Dennis ducked to the passing lane and came close at the wire to finish second. Baximum came on for Tony Morgan to finish third.

One race earlier, in a $14,000 trot, Carlo Poliseno drove Barbara Boese’s Awsome Valley right to the front and continued on for a 1:55.3 triumph holding off 19-1 Spunky Jack (Roger Plante) at the wire. Public choice Keystone Thomas (Daryl Bier) had to settle for third-place. The win was the first of the year for the Valley Victor-Ninnina Ambrosio gelding. It was his 10th lifetime win and raised his career bankroll to $103.541.

Modern Family, who raced unplaced in last Fall’s Breeders Crown started off his 2013 season rolling to an uncontested 1:54.1 victory in a $13,000 4&5-Year-Old trot. It was the first of two wins for trainer-driver-part owner Daryl Bier who shares ownership in the Cantab Hall-Domestic Diva horse with Charles Dombeck and Richard Poilluccci. Wonder Buns (Eddie Davis Jr.) finished second. Peaceful Path (Vic Kirby) was the show horse.

For the fourth consecutive week, Up Front Ben scored a near wire-to-wire victory in a $15,000-$20,000 Claiming Allowance. Ron Pierce drive the Andover Hall-Sounds Swell nine-year-old to the 1:54.3 victory for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta. Blueridge Tornado (Tim Tetrick) was runner-up. Good Feeling (Vince Copeland) came in third.

Core Daryl Bier, Ron Pierce and Tim Tetrick drove two winners each while trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Wittmar and Steve Iaquita also had two wins.

Last week’s winner Catchmecullen A takes on Mustang Art, Nova Artist, Rusty’s All In and Malak Uswaad A in an eight horse field in the $30,000 Delaware Special, Thursday’s headliner. 

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