Modern Family turns back his elders at Dover

Dover, DE --- Modern Family, the youngest trotter in the feature at four, stepped right up to $23,000 Open Handicap ranks and scored a 1:54.2 victory on a rain-changing-to-snow-shower program at Dover Downs on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Dover Downs

Modern Family stepped up and won in Dover's top overnight trot

After winning by 16 lengths last week, Modern Family took on the track’s top trotters and came away with a hard-fought victory in the week’s feature race.

Daryl Bier, who co-owns Modern Family with Charley Dombeck and Rich Pollucci, raced outside the track record-holing older trotter He’s Spooky and Eric Carlson from mid backstretch.

Modern Family finally collared the leader nearing the finish line for his second-straight win of 2013. Though the son of Cantab Hall--Domestic Diva raced unplaced in the Breeders Crown and Matron Stakes, Modern Family showed his class by winning for the sixth time in his career while banking $85,772. Green Day led early for Corey Callahan and held on to finish third.

The Meadows
Sent off a longish 10-1 from post eight, Marty’s Charm grabbed the early lead and never let another horse get close in capturing Wednesday’s $22,500 winners-over $10,000 life/Preferred Handicap pace at The Meadows. With Randy Tharps able to give Marty’s Charm a :30 second-quarter breather, the 9-year-old Aces N’ Sevens--Bets Mae gelding glided over the sloppy surface and scored in 1:54.2, finishing 1-3/4 lengths better than Risk Management. Southern Allie, the 1-1 favorite, finished third. Paul Corey trains Marty’s Charm, who extended his career bankroll to $446,327, for Martha and Gerald Baluck. Tony Hall and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race card, while Greg Grismore and trainer Doug Hinklin teamed for three victories.