After 5 consecutive 2nd place finishes Shes Pukka N found the harness racing winner’s circle as she defeated a select group of Open Handicap Pacing Mares at Dover Downs on Wednesday.
Shes Pukka N was parked three-wide by Tae and Feeling Sweet to the quarter in the 12th race $25,000 feature. Once she cleared, Tony Morgan was able to control the race fractions and relaxed Shes Pukka N on the lead. The race fractions were :26.2, :55.3 (:29.1) and 1:23.3 (:28).
The 8/5 betting favorite, Major Occasion A and driver Dexter Dunn attacked 1st up from fifth past the half but wilted at the three-quarter marker. Soho Burning Love A and driver Tim Tetrick attempted to close from dead last,
circling four-wide at the top of the stretch. That bid came up short.
In the Lane, Shes Pukka N could not be denied and won by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish. She won in 1:51.3 and paid $6.20 for the win.
Shes Pukka N (Betterthancheddar) is owned by Peter Paul Venturini of Rockaway, NJ. Brian Malone trains. Feeling Sweet benefitted from a pocket trip and finished 2nd for trainer Joe
Columbo. Mike Cole drove. Soho Burning Love A charged home to finish 3rd for trainer Jim King Jr.
Thursdayās $27,500 Blue Hen/ Open Handicap Pace features track record holder Sprocket. He attempts to win his 4th race in a row.
Post Time at Dover Downs on Thursday is 4:30 pm.
For full race results, click here.
by Alex Kraszewski, for Dover Downs