Shopping With Art pays off again at Dover

Shopping With Art is a winner, at least in his last six races, Versado returned with a 1:50.1 front-pacing victory in the $35,000 Preferred Handicap, and Catchmecullen A closed strongly to win the $30,000 Delaware Special at Dover Downs on a windy Thursday.

 

Owner-trainer-driver Daryl Bier acquired Shopping With Art after an odds-on win at Woodbine and since he has been a prohibitive favorite in each of his five consecutive wins since including the latest, a 1:52.1 breeze in a $15,500 pace, Chief Cruiser (Allan Davis) was second with Johnangelo (Brad Hanners) third.

 

The lightly raced 5-year-old gelding by Art Major-Precious Bunny has won six of 10 lifetime starts with two seconds and a third. He has won $24,300 of his career earnings of $69,769 in January. Bier completed a double steering One More Miracle home in 1:55 in a $13,500 pace.

 

Versado, fourth last Saturday in the $103,500 Presidential final at the Meadowlands, returned to the winner's circle for the fifth time this meet annexing a 1:50.1 score in the $35,000 Preferred/Open pace with Pat Berry in the bike. Dancin Yankee closed from far back for Corey Callahan to finish a close second. Adventure Bound and Jim Morand were third.

 

Versado raced six times this month winning three and earning $65,580. Nick Surick conditions the Dragon Again-Beach Jenny gelding for KDN Stables.

 

Catchmecullen A came on in the stretch to notch a 1:51 victory in the $30,000 Delaware Special Handicap. Eric Cantor drove the veteran Christian Cullen-Kimrena gelding to win his second race in five starts this year. Trainer Josh Parker and Nanticoke Racing own the 10-year-old. Dead heating for second were Mustang Art (Ron Pierce) and Rusty's All In (Callahan). (Dover Downs)