TUG RIVER PRINCESS, JUANITA, BIG HEART, INDIAN HILL MOJOE WIN $100,000 FINALS

DOVER, Del --- The Dover Downs 39^th season of racing went out in fine style with four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Three-Year-Old Finals on meet ending, Thursday, April 10. Tim Tetrick, who won seven races Wednesday followed with a five-bagger this time.

Tug River Princess came within two-fifth of a second of Rainbow Blue’s track record scoring her 11^th consecutive victory in what is a perfect racing career as Hall of Famer John Campbell steered the Badlands Hanover filly to a 1:51.2 triumph in her  $100,000 final. Campbell pulled Tug River Princess off the rail to engage front-pacing Dover Dolly on the backstretch. After a short battle for supremacy, Tug River Princess zoomed into the lead and bade farewell to her seven rivals winning by 5-lengths. Dover Dolly and Tim Tetrick held on for second. Badlands Power came on for Art Stafford Jr. to take third.

Tug River Princess, purchased early this year by Jerry Silva, Robert Cooper and Let It Ride stables, has won all six of her 2008 starts including a seep of the Tender Loving Care Series at the Meadowlands. She increases her seasonal bankroll to $114,850 and $135,850 lifetime.

In the filly trot, Juanita continued on her unbeaten record in DSBF competition. The winner of both two-year-old $110,000 finals, the CR Commando lass won the first of two three-year-old titles as breeder-co-owner and driver Jim Morand took Juanita to the lead early and was never headed in a career-fastest victory in 1:58.2.Co-owned by Nanticoke Racing, she has now all three of her soph starts and 11 of 12 lifetime earning $247,700 in purses. Commando Queen finished second with Vic Kirby driving. Koala Kat driven by Tony Morgan was third.

Ron Hill drove Indian Hill Mojoe into the lead heading to the three-quarters and then sped away to score a 1:59 career best clocking. First National and Art Stafford Jr. came on in the stretch to secure second in front of Eddie Davis Jr.-driven Rough Seas.  Hill and trainer Virginia Keeler bred and own Indian Hill Mojoe, now a $145,000 lifetime winner.

Big Heart kept his winning percentages going as Jim Morand piloted the Badlands Hanover colt Big Heart to a 1:51.4 score in the $100,000 Colt pace. Morand elected to drive the usual front-stepping soph from off the pace and came three wide around the final turn to quickly catch the leaders and win easily. Dina’s Gamble closed for Corey Callahan to pick up second. Frog Juice with John Campbell led early and finished third.  

In four $20,000 DSBF consolation events Cliff Green drove Dennis Walls’ Noble Jay a CR Commando gelding to his first lifetime win in 1:58.4 in the Colt trot division. ABC Command, bred, owned, trained and driven by Bobby Myers took the filly trot edition in 2:02.4. In the paces, Triple Black and Tim Tetrick had just enough to win the colt section for Ben Stafford Jr. and John Heckler, in 1:53.2 while Tony Morgan drove Bob Messick’s Bags Of Three to a 1:54.4 filly win.   

Delaware harness racing returns at Harrington Raceway, on Sunday, April 20. Dover Downs live racing resumes on Saturday, Nov. 1. Simulcasting continues daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant 302-674-4600.