Trips for Three Of Spades

Three Of Spaces made it three $40,000 Preferred Handicap Pace victories in a row while Solano, also leaving from an outside post, won the $37,000 Delaware Special on a rainy Monday at Dover Downs.

 

It apparently is getting to be a habit for Bill DeLodovico and Bib Roberts' Three Of Spades. The 7-year-old Cam's Card Shark-Triple Flip was sidelined for much of 2009, but since Dover Downs opened in November, the gelding has recorded six wins in the Monday feature race and upped his seasonal bankroll to $112,840.

 

Driver Jon Roberts spent more than three-quarters of a 1:50.4 mile on the outside working his way up to contend and then pull off in a :26.3 final panel for a one-length triumph. Booze Cruzin had led through the early stanzas for Tim Tetrick before yielding in the late going. Blissfull Silence, a 26-1 shot, had been an early contender for Ron Pierce and held on to finish third.

 

All Solano has had to show for the three races for Kathleen Wyatt and trainer Johnny Waite since being claimed March 1 is three consecutive impressive victories. Mike Cole was in the bike for this one hustling from post eight to find a spot third then quickly out and going to the lead before the half and then bidding adieu to his six opponents for a 1:51.4 win. The clocking was a personal best for the No Pan Intended-Bloodstock Nilator horse. Dollars Bromac (Eric Goodell) was runner-up. Dontloseyourdayjob (Daryl Bier) was the show horse. Funny Deacon did not start.

 

Tim Lancaster's That's Justice made good use of starting from post one in the $30,000 Open Pace as Vince Copeland shot the Village Jove-Power Persuasion gelding into the lead after the opening quarter and rolled on for a 1:51 win, his third of the year pushing his earnings to $64,170 this year. Bad Rusty (Ross Wolfenden) closed from sixth at the three quarters to finish second in front of Ideal Vintage (Tetrick). Benns Shotgun was scratched.

 

In the $29,000 Four-Year-Old Open, after running up five straight wins for driver Roger Plante who leases Harlingen Hanover, the Badlands Hanover-Hermosa Hanover gelding had no racing luck particularly in postposition draws. This time Harlingen Hanover left fast and never was headed in a 1:51.4 lifetime fastest score. The Phyllis Copeland trainee was followed by Light Up The Sky (Tony Morgan) and Yankee Fortysix (Brad Hanners). The field was reduced to eight when Denim Hanover was scratched. (Dover Downs)