The heat was on in Dover open

Safari Heat and Roger Plante scored a 1:57.1 victory in the $26,000 Open trot while Grand Photo went even faster to take the $23,000 Jr. Open trot on Wednesday at Dover Downs. Tony Morgan had a driving quadruple.

Plante took Safari Heat, overlooked at 8-1, away fastest in the feature to get the lead early and then set the tempo the rest of the way en route to his eighth win of the year for owners Tom and Gregg Morris. Race favorite Valley Sport and Morgan got away slowly and was fifth before coming to the outside before the half-mile pole. Safari Heat continued on as his challenger slowly moved up to engage the leader as the duo headed for home. In the lane Safari Heat held off Valley Sport by a neck with Go Sassy Go rolling down the lane for George Dennis to take third.

In the Jr. Open, Bob Shahan rushed 12-1 shot Grand Photo into the lead at the start and then held off a lengthy challenge from the mid backstretch until deep stretch from Fivedollarsforsox, driven by George Dennis, reaching the finish line in a lifetime fastest 1:56.2. The SJ's Photo gelding is owned by Cindy Issel and Jeff and Jewell Marsh. It was the 5-year-old gelding's second win in his last three outings. Tim Tetrick guided Breeze Hill Will along the passing lane to edge Fivedollarsforsox for second money.

In a $15,000 trot, Kennywood overtook front-trotting Par One (Morgan) on the backstretch and they pulled away for an easy 1:56.4 score for Ken Wood and Henry King. Plante drove the winner to his third win of the year banking $52,585. Litigator (Tetrick) came from far back to get up for second in front of Johnny Peanuts (Carlo Poliseno). (Dover Downs)

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