Dover, De – Captain Albano fought through the wind and cold to capture the Progress Pace elimination at Bally’s Dover on Thursday (Nov. 21) night. Eleven of the top three-year-old colt and gelding pacers squared off.
Calicojack Hanover, Better Is Nice and Captain Albano all left in unison approaching the quarter pole. Captain Albano was able to wrestle for the early lead but was parked to the opening quarter in :27 seconds flat.
Nijinsky, who paid $25,000 to supplement in Progress Pace, was parked the entire mile as was It’s Saturday Night. Captain Albano was fierce and would not give up the lead passing the half in :54, a :27 flat throw down. Captain Albano steamrolled to the three-quarters in 1:22, a :28 flat quarter.
Nijinsky and It’s Saturday Night began to get leg weary, approaching the three-quarter pole. Mirage Hanover, Captain Luke and Nuclear circled three-wide from the back of the pack in pursuit of Captain Albano. In the lane, Better Is Nice and Calicojack Hanover skimmed along the pylons, but their attempts were in vain.
The even odds betting favorite, Captain Albano ( Captaintreacherous) won by a half-length in 1:49.4. He paid an even $4.00 for the win. Noel Dailey trained and Todd McCarthy drove. Better Is Nice finished second and Calicojack Hanover was third.
The top eight in the official order of finish return for the $267,960 Progress Pace Final to be contested on Wednesday (Nov. 27).
Monday (Nov.) feature is the $110,000 DSBF final for two-year-old fillies on the trot. The race is named in honor of the late Publicity Director and Hall of Famer Marv. Bachrad.
Live harness racing at Bally’s Dover will be dark on Thursday (Nov. 28) (Thanksgiving) Post time is 4:30 p.m.