Pacific Philly stakes claim to Dover's winner's circle

January 30, 2008

Pacific Philly, a 24-1 longshot, came from sixth on the final turn to score a 1:52 victory in the $32,000 Mares Open Pace at Dover Downs on Tuesday, while Camturo won the $24,000 mares winners-over sub-feature.

Driver Eddie Davis Jr. altered his tactics in the week's top distaff feature, choosing to race Pacific Philly from off the pace instead of the front end and it paid off with a come-from-behind win. Davis whirled the winner out of sixth as the field began to bunch at the top of the lane. Pacific Philly sped on the far outside past a three horse wall in deep stretch to zoom to victory by a half-length with Easter Egg Hunt and Roger Plante racing down the passing lane to finish second. Fionavar Hanover with Tim Tetrick took show honors.

The Pacific Fella-sired 6 year old was bred and is owned by Bob Messick and trained by Tim Torbert.

In one of two $24,000 mares winners-over paces, Glen Asher's Mr. Deli's Filly, off at 6-1, took command heading to the far turn on the way to a lifetime mark of 1:52.2. The Jason Skinner conditioned Artiscape 4 year old was followed to the wire by Bikini Bottom and Eric Goodell, unable to get to the passing lane in time to challenge. Shady Sabrina, piloted by Tetrick, was third.

The other $24,000 section found Goodell sitting second behind Camturo until the top of the lane before pulling out and overtaking front-pacing Cowgirls And Indians with Tony Morgan in a 1:52.3 winning performance. Neal Osksenberg owns the Arturo 7 year old trained by Sam Beegle in her second straight victory. Riley Rose and Jim King finished third.

In one of the $16,000 mares paces, Sweet Lips lowered her lifetime record to 1:53.3 when Roger Plante drove the Life Sign 4 year old to victory for Eve Hughes and breeder-owner Bonnie Benson. Alberts Drifter N (Bret Brittingham) closed along the passing lane to nip front-pacing Rakalees N (Brandon Givens) for second at the wire.

The Queen Of Trash got back into the win column as Givens, a co-owner of the Cam's Card Shark 5 year old with Donna Messick and Nanticoke Racing, steamed to a 1:54 triumph in the other $16,000 distaff pace. Poker Mom (Goodell) was next. Nono Yezz Rusty (Davis) was the show horse.

Sams Angel, owned and trained by Ken Dawson, had just enough to hold off fast-finishing Second Change (Morgan) in 1:54 to win a $14,500 mares pace. "The Green Machine," Tetrick, posted his second win of the night. Bay Express N (Corey Callahan) picked up third money.

Tetrick drove Kathleen Weller's Famed Artist to her second straight win, a 1:55 triumph, in an $11,000 mares pace. Hold That Thought (Callahan) was runner-up. Nairobi Hanover (King) was the show finisher. (Dover Downs)

« Back