Unlike in last week’s prelim, I Love My Boss came from behind to keep his all-win record in tack, scoring a 1:56 triumph in his $20,000 division. Jonathan Roberts was content to race fourth at the half and then moved out slowly to finally catch front-trotting Bosston BNZ on the final turn. The duo raced side-by-side halfway down the lane before the Don Boss Vita-Wild One gelding pulled away to the win. Trainer Bobby Shahan, Jimmy and Angela Parsons own the lifetime winner of $95,000. Whichwayrightrleft (Ross Wolfenden) made up for an unexpected misstep last week, to finish third.
Gateway Stable’s unheralded Streets Of Gold picked up his best paycheque of a nine-race career, taking a 2:01.2 upset in the other $20,000 DSBF soph trot. Eddie Davis Jr. piloted the longshot Linbo-Royalty Rates brown gelding to his first win, besting AJ Commander (Wolfenden). Goodtwogreat (Corey Callahan) took third. Race favourite Briefs Or Boxers (Carlo Poliseno) broke stride at the start and then again after catching the field on the backstretch and finished out-of-the-money.
Toolbox, driven by Bill Long -- longtime Ocean Downs leading driver -- escaped from being locked in fourth on the backstretch, finding room on the last turn, and then roared four-wide down the lane to notch a 1:58.3 victory in his second start of the year for owner Crawford Rayne. An altered son of Giant Hit–NV Gemma, Toolbox was followed by My Boy Charlie (Roger Plante) and early leader Winbak Charles M (Jeff Fout).
The top eight-pointers in each of the four sophomore sections return next week for $100,000 finals, Monday through meet closing day Thursday, April 10.
On the non-stakes card, for the second straight week Enrico AS disposed of seven rival coming from off the pace to win the $18,000 Winners Over Trot in 1:54.1. Ron Pierce drove the Eric Ell-trained Allstar Hall-Caspian chestnut gelding to his third win of 2014 for owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta. Guiltywithanexcuse (Daryl Bier) closed along the inside for second. Im So Striking (Eddie Dennis) edged early leader Spunky Jack (Roger Plante) for show honours.
Barbara Boese’s Awsome Valley equalled the fastest trotting time of the meet in one of two $14,500 sub-features. Tony Morgan steered the Valley Victor-Nannina Ambrosio gelding wire-to-wire in 1:53. Earlier in the meet, Traverse Seelster won in that time. Looking Hanover (Kirby) and Royal Malinda (Wolfenden) were second and third.
Beaver Creek Farm’s He Belongs Here, an Angus Hall-Flying Dove gelding with Ron Pierce driving, won the other $14,500 trot for four and five-year-olds in 1:55.2. Dribble Drive (G.Dennis) was second in front of Zoli (Kirby).
Wolfenden, Kirby and Tony Morgan drove two winners each.
A threesome of $20,000 DSBF second leg sophomore male paces and the $30,000 Delaware Special highlight a big Thursday card at Dover Downs.
(Dover Downs)