Dover: Shartin rebounds with powerful Invitational victory

Leading Horse of the Year candidate Shartin erased any doubt of her current form as she destroyed her foes in a $40,000 Filly and Mare Invitational at Dover Downs on Wednesday night.

With most of the big guns in the division on hand, Shartin floated away into fourth early as Caviart Ally wrestled away the lead from Apple Bottom Jeans in an opening quarter of 26 4/5. As the field approached the second turn, driver Tim Tetrick asked Shartin for speed and she exploded past Caviart Ally like she was standing still at the half in 55 3/5 before closing the door on the race with a 26 3/5 third quarter.

Shartin would stop the timer in 1:49 4/5 well clear of a game uncovered Kissin In The Sand. Caviart Ally lasted for third.

“I was trying to get her on a helmet as long as I could because she got chased down her last couple of starts,” said Tetrick. “At the quarter I was thinking things weren’t going very good, but my mare was starting to grab on and when I moved her she got around Andrew (McCarthy, Caviart Ally). When she is on her game, she’s as good as any horse I’ve ever driven.”

The Jim King, Jr. trainee won for the 15th time in 18 starts this year for owners Richard Poillucci, JoAnn Looney-King and Tetrick. She has now earned $940,177 in 2019 and will look to break the million-dollar mark for the second straight year in the TVG Open Mare Pace at The Meadowlands on November 23.

A victory in the TVG could also secure Horse of the Year honors for the 6-year-old mare.

“We don’t need it, but it sure would be nice,” joked King after the win about potentially winning Horse of the Year.

Shartin paid $4.20 to win as the slight betting favorite over Caviart Ally.