One filly trotter stood out at the start of the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit (ISFC) this season. She is still a standout. Dover Dance, owned and trained by Greg Runyon of Portland, Ind., added another win to her credentials Tuesday, Aug. 24 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. The freshman trotter is now eight for eight this season.
Dover Dance and Jay Cross prepare for their division of trotting fillies in the ISFC at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Tuesday, Aug. 25. Photo by Tammy Knox
Driven by Jay Cross, Dover Dance was authoritative from the start and was on top of the field of fillies by more than two lengths at the quarter in :33.0. From there, she relaxed into her lead position for Cross and kept an easy tempo through middle fractions of 1:05.0 and 1:35.4. Around the final turn, Crecia and Doug Rideout had been sitting in second behind her the entire way and began to pick up the tempo to challenge, but Dover Dance answered. Both fillies trotted home in :29.2 with Dover Dance keeping her two-length plus advantage at the wire over Crecia. Retha Babe and Bradley Ferguson recovered from a break after the start to move into third.
Dover Dance is from the first crop of Dover Dan. She was purchased as a yearling last year by Runyon from the Blooded Horse Sale. Bred by Richard Fry, Dover Dance had a break in action from the first round of the ISFC, but appears to be back to her winning ways after the break. She has not made in excess of $12,000 with her quickest mile recorded in mid-July at Frankfort in 2:02.1.
In two-year-old trotting colt and gelding action, Nasey and Michael Detweiler used a middle race move to finally take over the lead and draw off to a four-length advantage for the win in 2:08.3, a final panel in :29.3. Punches Pride and Doug Rideout finished second over Molly’s Jail and Jay Cross for third.
Vel Jail Bondsman and Kevin Lambright won the second division of freshman trotting colts and geldings. The Jailhouse Jesse colt scored the win in gate to wire fashion in 2:07.0. Larry King trains and King Racing Stable owns the trotter, who was bred by Mo Coo Inc. of New York. The mile was a new career best for Vel Jail Bondsman, who has three wins to his credit this season.