Droopys Rodger smashes Dundalk sprint record
A 4-1 chance in the betting, Droopys Rodger produced a career best effort as he stormed to a seven length victory over Clerragh Tom in 21.06, an improvement of five spots on the old mark set by Mabels Dilemma when winning the final of this classic a year ago.
The Ger Holian trained Mabels Dilemma, in only his second race since last year's final, gained a narrow victory in 21.59 when beating Express Comet and Mango Tango by half a length and a length.
It was a night when the bookmakers had the best of the argument with no favourite managing to win. Fastest first round winner Mulcair Jo was beaten a neck by Joe Blair's Smart Teddy in 21.30 while the biggest shock was the elimination of Duke Of Ross. He could finish only fourth behind Donal Carroll's Carrigeen Smooth in 21.52.
The other heat winners were 6-1 chance Rays Regret, who had a length and a half in hand over dead-heaters Staley Vegas and Droopys Leon, in 21.37 and Owen McKenna's Great Display with a 4 length victory over odds-on Mineola Foreman in 21.62.
Keeley McGee meanwhile supplied three of the four second round winners in the vcbet.ie Open 525 at Galway on Friday.
Holborn Post was fastest of the night when leading all the way to beat Side Sail by almost 8 lengths in 28.56 while Holborn Concorde in 28.93 and Jims Vieri in 28.82 were the other McGee winners.
The other heat saw 10-1 chance Glenfort Lark beat Tamna Mistress handily in 28.89 with the McGee hot pot Katelyns Dream last of the five runners after early traffic problems.
Shocks were the order of the night at Harold's Cross on Friday where there were major upsets in two of the three semi-finals of the Baggot Racing Irish Puppy Oaks.
Jerry Melia's Wrens Lass sprang a 12-1 shock in the opening heat when heading Sarah Said So at the third bend for a length and a half verdict in 29.33.
A 10-1 upset followed in the second heat where Francis Casey's Aer Avril came in as a surprise and shot through a third bend pile-up to gain a 3 length victory over Kitty The Fox in 29.13.
But the natural order was restored in the third heat as Pat Kelly's Alexandrova justified her 4-5 price as she clocked 28.85, taking it up on the third bend for a 3 length success.
The Irish Derby Trial Stake was won by red hot Ballyhoe Marble in 30.19 but the race of the night was the valuable Open 810 where the Kevin Commins owned Debidee Lane gained a 2 length victory over a slightly unlucky Bombersgoinghome in 45.89.
Draw for Friday's Puppy Oaks decider: 1 Sarah Said So; 2 Kitty The Fox; 3
Alexandrova; 4 Pretty Caroline; 5 Wrens Lass; 6 Aer Avril (w).
