Gurf surprises at Dover

Dover, DE --- Overlooked at 15-1 after winning at Yonkers from post eight last week, Gurf stormed from last to first in the stretch to win the $23,000 Open Handicap Trot at Dover Downs on Wednesday.

Fotowon photo

Gurf came from far off the pace to win Dover's feature on Wednesday.

With Allan Davis at the controls, Gurf sat seventh when the field began to bunch as Magic Wheel (Brad Hanners), who led from the start, tried to hold on when the entire field came at the leader. Gurf, however, sailed past to win in 1:54.3.

Tagyoureit Hanover (Ross Wolfenden) finished second, Magic Wheel third and Sun Of A Victory (Daryl Bier), fourth, were tight at the wire. Rosemary Smutz trains Gurf for Dave Neilson. It was the fifth win of the year for the well-bred, altered son of Self Possessed--Tasty Chip. The win put him into six figures for 2012, now having earning $106,157, and $351,217 in his career.

Driver Corey Callahan had three wins as did trainer Mike Hall.

-- Marv Bachrad

The Meadows
The last time the two trotting mares met, Nov. 20 at The Meadows, Unefoisdansmavie enjoyed a pocket trip behind Victory Is Coming and brushed by her in the lane. On Wednesday at The Meadows, it was déjà vu all over again, as Unefoisdansmavie outkicked Victory Is Coming after riding her bumper most of the mile to capture the $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap by a neck in 1:55. The ground-saving Kandor Hanover was third. Dave Palone drove for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Jack Piatt III. With the win, the 5-year-old daughter of Revenue S-Peace To The World soared past $200,000 in career earnings. Mike Wilder drove three winners on the 13-race card.

Pompano Park
Commander K, smartly driven by Joe Pavia, Jr., was sent to the lead as the gate’s wings folded and wired the competition for the second straight week in Pompano Park’s $11,500 Open trot. Owned by trainer Luca Derrico, the 5-year-old, gelded son of Ken Warkentin carved panels of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25 before digging in late to hold off the surging even money favorite, Andover America, driven by Bruce Ranger, by three parts of a length in 1:54.4. I’ll Tell You What (Ingraham) was a fast closing third while Blushing Hanover and Spring Goal picked up the final two checks. “He’s got great gate speed,” Pavia said. “And he likes to dig in at the end of a mile…a great quality in any racehorse!” Derrico claimed Commander K for $22,000 in late September and in the nine starts he has had him he’s banked $23,700 -- about half of that in the past week.

Saratoga
Nutmegs Gigolo, with Brian Cross in the bike, hit the wire first in the tenth race at Saratoga Casino & Raceway. Owned by James Gipson and trained by John Mongeon, the 5-year-old Ameripan Gigolo colt posted the fastest mile of a cold, blustery evening in 1:57.3. The win was the third of the evening for Cross, who also scored with Leigh Ann in the first and Matt’s Wolfey in the sixth.