Last Glow capitalizes on miscue by race favorite

Last Glow (Trixton) won wire-to-wire in the $16,000 conditioned harness racing trot feature at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday (March 19) night.

As the saying goes “sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”  Last Glow and driver Jack Parker Jr. were both.

Three horses sprinted quickly at the start of the race.  Last Glow, Crystal Fashion and The Fast Lane all wanted the early lead.  Unfortunately, the even odds betting favorite, The Fast Lane, who won nine consecutive races, made a break approaching the quarter and never recovered.

Last Glow and driver Jack Parker Jr. capitalized on the miscue and cleared the lead reaching the opening quarter in :28.2. Crystal Fashion left from the outside post and yielded to the pocket.  Swan In Motion got away third both, trotters approaching the quarter pole.

Last Glow was able to control the race tempo and backed off the half in :58, a pedestrian :29.3 quarter. The old man of the field, thirteen-year-old JL Cruze, angled off the pylons and started his journey first up and coverless down the backstretch. Speed Away shadowed second over and That Ole Bar Stool was carried third over on the rim.

Last Glow revved up the engines and accelerated, passing the three quarters in 1:25.4, a :27.4 quarter.

JL Cruze became leg weary past the three quarters and Speed Away was forced to swing three-wide. That Ole Bar Stool continued on a steady four wide journey approaching the top of the stretch.  Crystal Fashion had every opportunity to become a factor from the pocket but that bid stalled.

Speed Away was closing fast late in the lane, however, Last Glow would not be denied and won by a half a length in 1:55.  He paid $11.80 for the win.

LAST GLOW REPLAY

Last Glow is owned by Charles E. Groce II of Felton, Delaware. Carol Jamison-Parker trains. Speed Away finished second and Swan In Motion finished third.

Tim Tetrick drove three winners on the night.

Jody takes on Lyons Bettorday and Disturbed Hanover in the $25,000 Mares Open Handicap Pace on Wednesday night. Bally’s Dover races Monday thru Thursday with a post time of 4:30 pm.

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

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover