Morgan sends Square Deal all the way

 Square Deal won wire to wire competing in the $25,000 Mares Open Handicap pace at Bally’s Dover on Wednesday night.

 Driver Tony Morgan and Square Deal’s strategy in their recent starts were to leave quickly then save ground along the pylons.

 Not Tonight. Driver Tony Morgan decided to take a down the road approach and it worked.

 Factory Girl and Square Deal left fastest off the wings of the starting gate. Square Deal wanted the lead and got it however at the cost of being parked out to the opening quarter in 26.4. Factory Girl, the even odds betting favorite, respectfully chose to take a seat and watch all the action from the pocket.

For Square Deal the lights were flashing and the horns were blowing as she sped to the half in 55, a 28.1 quarter. 

Midway up the backstretch straight away, Ballast and driver Corey Callahan chose a coverless 1st over rush.  Racin Hungry gladly accepted a second over tow.

Square Deal continued on the engine and whistled to the three quarters in 1:23 a 28.1 quarter.  

At the top of the stretch,  Ballast could not gain any ground parked out  and started to fade.   Racin Hungry was forced to circle three wide.  Factory Girl waited for clearance late in the lane but was unable to gain any ground.      Square Deal would not be denied as she won by three quarters of a length, pacing her mile in 1:52.  She returned $6.60 to her backers.

SQUARE DEAL REPLAY

Factory Girl finished second and Jett Propelled saved ground along the pylons to finish third.  Will Reynolds trained and Tony Morgan drove

Square Deal ( Heston Blue Chip ) is owned by Mark Howard of Federalsburg, Maryland.  Let It Ride Stables Inc are the breeders.

There will be a superfecta carryover worth $1,478 and a pic 4 carry over worth $1,085 to Thursday night’s betting card.

The feature race on Thursday night’s betting card will be the 10th race $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace.  Downers Delight gambles with  his 2 race win streak on the line.  It won’t be easy as he tackles eleven year old war horse Itsrockandroll A and nemesis  Muskateer Hanover. 

Bally’s Dover races Monday thru Thursday. Post time is 4:30 pm

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

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover