Aspiring Nick turns the tables

The third time proved to be the charm for Aspiring Nick in his ongoing rivalry with Bunker Hill.

Narrowly beaten in two previous stakes tries against Bunker Hill, this time Aspiring Nick got up by a nose to win the $75,000 Dover Stakes for 2-year-olds at Delaware Park.

Bunker Hill, sent off the 2-1 second choice in a field of seven despite being unbeaten in three starts, forged to a narrow lead inside the eighth pole under jockey Jose Lezcano. But after Bunker Hill and Aspiring Nick brushed each other, Aspiring Nick and jockey Mario Pino narrowly got to the wire first.

The stewards called for an inquiry of the stretch run, but allowed the results to stand.

Ask Joe, the 8-5 favorite who led by a half-length at the eighth pole, weakened in the final furlong to finish third.

Aspiring Nick had finished a head behind Bunker Hill in last month's Go for the Green Juvenile locally and was third, two lengths behind his rival, in the Continental Mile at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Tim Kelly, Aspiring Nick ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.00.