Stunner! 74-1 maiden takes $51,600 Final

Im Still Here (Emeritus Maximus), a harness racing maiden no more at odds of 74-1, won the $51,600 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Late Closer Final for three-year-old pacing colts at Bally’s Dover on closing night Thursday night (March 28) in a stunning upset.

Captain Pete left quickest off the gate and was parked to the quarter by Papas Son at the opening quarter in :27.3 over a sloppy race surface. Beat Cop who won eight consecutive races settled in third and moved under a full head of steam past the quarter.

A fired-up Captain Pete, the 1/9 betting favorite, would not yield and parked out Beat Cop to the half in :56.1, a :28.3 panel.  The two combatants matched strides at the three quarters in 1:24.3, a duplicate, :28.3 quarter.

Papas Son enjoyed the pocket trip and waited along the pylons to strike. Better Dig Two followed the action second over and Im Still Here was shadowing third over.

At the top of the stretch, driver Montrell Teague dived down along the pylons with Im Still Here, saving ground and raging with pace.  It proved to be the winning strategy as Im Here won by a nose in Still 1:55.3. He paid a whopping $151.80 for the win.

IM STILL HERE REPLAY

Im Still Here is owned by Cindy L. Englebach- Callahan and Walter O Callahan both from Delaware and is trained by Walter Callahan. Papas Son was second in the photo and Shocking Truth finished third.

The $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace was won by race favorite Maximus Miki (Always B Miki) in 1:50.3

Penzance Hanover cut the mile and posted fractions of :26.3 to the opening quarter. The half was reached in :55.2.  Maximus Miki and driver Andy McCarthy moved first over challenging Penzance Hanover down the backstretch. Energetic Hanover followed second over and Muskateer Hanover sat in the pocket.

Penzance Hanover and Maximus Miki raced side by side to the three quarters in 1:23 flat, a :27.3 quarter standoff.

Maximus Miki powered past Penzance Hanover in the stretch and won by three quarters of a length in 1:50.3.  He paid an even $4 for the win.

MAXIMUS MIKI REPLAY

Maximus Miki is owned by John Cancelliere of Clark N.J. Thomas Cancelliere trains.

Energetic Hanover was second and Muskateer Hanover was third.

Tim Tetrick was the leading driver of the Bally’s Dover meet and Chuck Crissman Jr. the leading trainer.  Dreaming of Lou was the USHWA Horse of the Meet.

Bally’s Dover live harness racing meet concluded for the season. Harrington Raceway begins their live harness meet on April 8th.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover