Dover Downs Extra 11/22/17

Judy Davis-Wilson, Executive Administrator of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund and involved at the highest levels of the sport for more than 40 years, has been appointed by U.S. Harness Writers Association to a six-year term on the Hall of Fame Screening Committee, which decides the ballot candidates for the sport's highest honor, the Hall of Fame. Ms. Wilson, daughter of two noted Delaware-based horse-people (Olin and Ruth Davis), Judy has worked at tracks in her native state, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, for the United States Trotting Association, and for the Hambletonian Society as stakes manager for 10-years before assuming her current position. Davis-Wilson served as President of USHWA from 2006-2008 and as Treasurer for several years. She has also been voted the Alan Prince USHWA Member of the Year award.

—————————————————–

George Teague plans to qualify Wiggle It Jiggleit early in the New Year. Teague has been carefully bringing back the sensational gelding to the races, Wiggle It Jiggleit has won $3,907,557 and the major stakes champion has won 38 of his 51 lifetime starts, with 10 seconds and two thirds. Wiggler It Jiggleit has had recurring back troubles, but Teague says he has not been bothered since his comeback. He did not race at all during the 2017 season. Teague plans to a number of qualifying races at Dover Downs or the Meadowlands in early 2018.

——————————————————

Tony Morgan had a big week diving winners. Morgan now needs only four wins to reach 16,000 winning drives. He trails only Dave Palone and is in second-place with the most winning drives in the harness racing world.

—————————————————–

Overlooked at 6-1, Sicily with Montrell Teague, executed a 1:48.4 winning mile, his second time faster than 1:49, taking the $25,000 Open on Thursday, the final feature race of the 2017 season. After the traditional one week Christmas Holiday Break, Live-racing resumes Jan. 1, 2018 with a 4:30 p.m. post time. Tim Tetrick drove five winners. Montrell Teague and Russell Foster had doubles.

————————————————

During the last week of 2017 racing, on Monday, Pure Kemp made it two wins in his last three starts scoring a 1:54.4 victory in the $12,000 feature trot Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins. Tim Tetrick and Tony Morgan had two each. Trainers Kyle Moore and Joe Columbo with two for the George and Tina Dennis Racing.

—————————————————–

Celebrity Pegasus rang up his third win of the meet and 13th of the season with a 1:53.2 victory in the $25,000 Open trot Tuesday. For the second consecutive day, Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins. Tony Morgan and Art Stafford Jr. had two each. Trainers Dylan Davis and Eric Ell and owners, Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms also had two wins.

————————————————–

Divas Image used the passing lane to catch Enhance Your Mind (Vic Kirby) nearing the finish line for a 1:51.3 victory in this week's $25,000 Mares Open pace on Wednesday. Tim Tetrick drove four winners. For the third consecutive day, Corey Callahan had three wins. Vic Kirby, trainer Nick Callahan and Breakaway Stable had a double.

———————————————–

Trotting specialist Jack Parker Jr. had a big Trotting Tuesday. He piloted seven-year-old NF Happenstance, from post 8 to her first win after returning to the races since her four-year-old season. Then Parker was nose away from a second victory driving Royal Becca J.

—————————————————————

Tim Tetrick, with five wins Thursday, has moved past defending champion Corey Callahan, with the most wins currently in the track drivers' standings. Tetrick has driven 59 wins, Callahan has 54. Art Stafford Jr. is third with 39 wins. Tony Morgan,36, fourth, and Vic Kirby and Russell Foster with 32, tied for fifth place.

—————————————————————–

Tetrick has now 530 wins his season and is just shy of $12 million in purse earnings tis season. Tetrick recently joined the 10,000-win club and has racked up career purse earnings in excess of $190 million.

—————————————————–

Jim King with 17 winners leads the trainer statistics at the Holiday break. Kevin Lare, Nick Callahan and Eric Ell are in a three-way tie for second. There is also a three-way tie for fifth between Josh Green, Wayne Givens and defending champ Dylan Davis, all with 14 wins.

——————————————————

Keep in mind, horses are one-year-older on Jan. 1, 2018. Though not the true date of birth, t's a mandated birthday for every horse, for record keeping purposes.

—————————————————-

From all of us, track management and horsemen, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2018!

Marv Bachrad