Roddy bags another

Roddy's Bags Again had just enough to hold off a determined bid from Armbro Baylor in the $37,500 Preferred Handicap while Poppy Lustre N stepped up to best the all-male Delaware Special as Tim Tetrick drove both winners at Dover Downs on Monday.

The 15-race card is the fastest card ever over a five-eighths mile track with the slowest time 1:53.2. Brian Sears had a banner day with five wins, Ron Pierce had four, Tetrick won three races while Tim Crissman had a training triple.

In the feature, Tetrick led at the start with Bob Messick's Roddy's Bags Again and led every step of a 1:50 mile to win for the second straight week. The Dragon Again 5 year old set all the fractions of :26.1 and :53.4 to the half. Morgan pulled Armbro Baylor out of third as the field approached a 1:21 three quarters. The pair raced as a team down the lane with Roddy's Bags Again prevailing by a short nose. Pierce and Beware Beret enjoyed a perfect trip racing behind the winner from the start and held on to third.

It doesn't happen often at the top level, but a mare beat the "big boys" in the $35,000 Delaware Special. Tetrick pulled Poppy Lustre N out of second following leader Art Director entering the final turn and the Direct Flight mare exploded into the lead and tenaciously held off hard-charging Prince Of Luck with Ross Wolfenden firing down the passing lane to score a 1:50.4 victory for the Wayne Pryor Estate and Wendy Crissman. Art Director and Ron Pierce finished third.

It was the third straight win for the 6 year old who stepped up out of the Mare Open ranks to win for the fifth time in 2007 raising her seasonal earnings to $90,260. Poppy Lustre N bas now won $208,771 lifetime.

In the first of three $22,000 winners-over paces, Gary Wolf's Casimir Bad Boy with Sears in the bike held off a late charge from Print It, who had backed through the field but was rallied by Pierce to close stoutly to within a head of the winner at the wire in 1:52.1. Wizsell, handled by Roger Plante, finished third.

Quick And Deadly, driven by Morgan for owner Mildred Ventriglio, scored a 1:50.3 victory in the $27,500 Open Pace. Cheyenne Hollywood closed for Sears to finish second beaten a head with Artchie Andrews and Brad Hanners third.

In the second $22,000 division, Pierce drove What A View to victory in 1:51.3 for owners Wayne Givens and Donick Stables for his fifth win of the 2007 season. Hot Lather with Ross Wolfenden raced alongside from the final turn with the wire only to finish second. Jasper Bob and Tetrick were third. (Dover Downs)

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