Mississippi Storm thunders home in Open

Mississippi Storm thundered home off a perfect trip and won the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs on Tuesday night.

JL Cruze and Mississippi Storm left alertly from the wings of the starting gate and settled in one, two, trotting to the quarter. Jl Cruze and driver Arthur Stafford Jr set race fractions of :26.4, :56.1 (:29.2) and 1:24.

Northern Express trotted 1st over past the half and engaged JL Cruze at the three-quarter marker. They trotted the 3rd quarter in :27.4.

Mississippi Storm sat in the pocket behind pace setter JL Cruze. Driver Pat Berry angled Mississippi Storm off the rail and thundered home at the top of the stretch to win by a neck in 1:54. He paid $8.60 for the win.

Mississippi Storm (Cantab Hall) is owned by Joseph E. Smith of Vero Beach, Florida and is trained by Tom Fanning.

Northern Express raced bravely 1st over and finished 2nd for trainer Arty Foster, Jr. Russell Foster drove. JL Cruze set all the race fractions and finished 3rd for trainer Eric Ell.

MISSISSIPPI STORM REPLAY

Pat Berry won 3 races on the betting card.

On Wednesday night the $25,000 Mares Open Pace features Shes Pukka N, Major Occasion A and Soho Burning Love A. Post time at Dover Downs is 4:30 pm.

For full race results, click here.

by Alex Kraszewski, for Dover Downs