Western Ace wins Dover pot

Classy veteran Western Ace took the lead at the quarter and repel six foes to win the $32,500 Delaware Special Handicap at Dover Downs on Monday, while Gottaservsomebody pulled an upset in the $26,000 Open.

 

Meet-leading driver Ron Pierce ushered Western Ace up to get the lead after a :26.3 opening panel and then set all the fractions on the way to a 1:52.1 victory in the week's top pacing event. After consecutive second-place finishes, Western Ace won for the first time this meet. It was the 26th career victory for Western Ideal-Alice Alice gelding now a lifetime winner of $1,752,467 for owners Kovach Stables and Teague Inc. Waipawa Lad N finished second for the second straight time while Truly Chris with Ross Wolfenden was third.

 

In the $26,000 Open, Tony Morgan zoomed Gottaservesomebody, an Artiscape-HH Sapphire gelding, away from the gate to the front and never looked back on the way to the fastest clocking of the night, a 1:51.4 victory for owner trainer Marvin Callahan. Aboycalledsu N was second best for Pierce. Three Of Spades closed for Jon Roberts to secure third.

 

Marvin Callahan's second winner shared with co-owner Mike Sherwood as Fifth Wave, sixth on the final turn, emerged from four horses across the track separated only by a head at the finish line for a 1:52.4 score in the $23,000 winners-over pace. Tim Tetrick piloted the win, his second on the card. Kelly's Spur and Corey Callahan took second with Estero Bay with Morgan third. The victory was the second in three races for Fifth Wave, an altered son of Life Sign-Whitley Bay.

 

Wainui Tabman N with Tim Curtin at the controls turned in his second win in three starts scoring a 1:53 triumph in an $18,500 pace. Neil Chesen, Wayne Hurtibise and Jim Novinger own the Presidential Ball-Gwyneth gelding. Real Magician (Morgan) was runner-up. Cappuccino Blaze (Tim Tetrick) was the show finisher.

 

Harlingen Hanover continues as the hottest horse at the track as Roger Plante, who leases and drives the Badlands Hanover-Hermosa Hanover 4-year-old gelding, came from off the pace to notch a 1:53.4 victory, his fifth in succession in a $17,500 pace. Yankee Fortysix (Brad Hanners) came on for second with Light Up The Sky (Montrell Teague) third.

 

Tetrick and Funny Deacon made one start for owner-trainer Lauren Allen a winning one before being claimed after winning the $30,000-$40,000 claiming handicap in 1:52.2. Escapefromalcatraz (Corey Callahan) was next in front of Jezal Theory A (Roberts) took third.

 

In an all Hanover finish, Alastair Hanover posted a new lifetime record of 1:52.1 winning the $15,500 pace. Callahan drove the win for owner Howard Slotoroff. The Dragon Again-Astarte Hanover gelding was chased home by Caerleon Hanover (Pierce) and Grand Duke Hanover (Frank Milby).

 

Gary and Barbara Iles' I'm Outtahair got up for Teague to win a $14,500 pace. Shady Idea (Eric Goodell) and McAroni N Cheese (Callahan) were second and third, respectively. (Dover Downs)