by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — On a cold Sunday (Nov. 24) night at Dover Downs, there was a ‘Bonfire’ in the winner’s circle after the $35,000 Progress Pace elimination where 20-1 Twilight Bonfire got his picture taken.

With race favorite Vegas Vacation scratched earlier in the day when trainer Casie Coleman said the sophomore gelding was not “100 percent” after winning last Sunday’s Matron final in 1:48.3, razor-sharp Sunshine Beach, the second-place finisher a week ago, was the public’s choice.

Fotowon photo

Twilight Bonfire was a narrow winner over Sunshine Beach in the Progress Pace elimination.

Driver John Campbell elected to race the colt from off the pace while Jason Bartlett sent Messenger Stakes champion Ronny Bugatti to the early lead and continued to cut out the fractions. When Sunshine Beach moved to the outside and up to challenge, Tim Tetrick and Twilight Bonfire, who started from the second tier, quickly came out to follow.

In a two-colt battle down the lane, Twilight Bonfire finally passed the favorite in the final strides to win by a head. Dedi’s Dragon, handled by Ron Pierce, closed to finish third after two out of the money efforts in the Matron. Scott Zeron drove Wake Up Peter to a fourth place finish.

All eight starters return next Sunday for the Progress Pace final.

Also on the card were six Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund second leg freshman pace events. There were three divisions for colts and three featuring filly pacers.

In the races for colts, Karen Walls’ Elite Awards (George Dennis) remained unbeaten in DSBF competition, easily besting Hawker (Jeff Fout) in 1:54.2. Casino Bags Carlo (Vince Copeland) made it two in a row, stroking a 1:54.3 conquest in the second $20,000 prelim. In the third colt division, it was all Joan Hamstead’s Lewiebyalength (Corey Callahan) in 1:56.2.

Treasure Valley (Corey Callahan), trained by Del Cote for owners Henry Faragalli III, Trevor Johnson and Joe Thomson, won the first $20,000 filly division, catching the favorite I’m Won Rum Wiser (George Dennis) in the final strides for a 1:57.3 score. Garnet O’Marrow’s homebred Seboomook Fool Yah (Allan Davis) won her third straight and sixth in her last eight races, romping to victory in 1:56.1 in her division. The Wiz Kids Stable’s Jonigold, trained and driven by Bart Dalious, was a 1:57 winner, beating race favorite Crushed Again (Vic Kirby).

Meet leading driver Corey Callahan had three winners.

$100,000 DSBF 2-year-old filly trot tops Monday card

The first of the 2013 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals headlines the Monday (Nov. 25) program.

Although not a handicap event, the three winningest contestants start from the outside posts in the first race on the 15-race program.

Last week, Overnight Hit turned in a gutty performance, racing outside for a portion of a 2:01.3 mile to take the lead and score his second win of the year. Trainer-driver Art Stafford, Jr. co-owns the Giant Hit filly with Wyatt Starkey. Overnight Hit has post eight while the filly he bested last week, Kelsey’s Commando, the race favorite, was a neck back in second. Vic Kirby will drive the CR Commando daughter for Rich Lombardo, JJ&M Stable and breeder Pam Wagner from post seven.

Way Over Paid, owned, trained and driven by Bryan Truitt, won last week after a second in the prelim before and now has been 1-2-3 in all five of his races.

Stop The Jade Farm’s Bella’s Spunkin with Allan Davis has one prelim win and leaves from the rail with Linbo Love, owned by Nanticoke Racing and breeders Charles and Diane Coursey, piloted by Jim Morand, starts alongside.

The other starters are Linborghini with George Dennis driving for Edwin Goans, Virginia Schoeffel and breeder and trainer Andy Markano; Tom Leager’s Classy N Quik also was a previous prelim winner with Mike Rossi driving; while Delbert Cain and Nanticoke Racing’s Some Sweet Lady and Les Givens complete the line-up.