by Marv Bachrad, Publicity Director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — The $308,060 Hap Hansen Progress Pace and four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund finals (DSBF) headline the biggest day in Delaware harness racing on Thursday (Nov. 30) at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Star Sapphire seeks to maintain her perfect record in DSBF action Thursday evening.

This season’s two richest three-year-old pacers – Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon – lead a fast, hard-hitting field of eight in the 21st Hap Hansen Progress Pace, the signature event of Dover Downs racing. The duo finished first and second respectively in last week’s elimination.

Bay Pond Racing’s Geez Joe (Andy Miller) finished third with Diamond Creek Racing’s Blood Line (Mark MacDonald) fourth and Tony Ruggeri’s Western Joe (Yannick Gingas) fifth.

The other contenders are Music Is Art (Corey Callahan) for Peter Blood and Rick Berks; Normandy Beach (Tim Tetrick) owned by McGill, Carsey, Friedland and Triple D Stables; and Jeff Snyder’s Mac’s Jackpot (Brett Miller).

All four DSBF freshman championships are on the line as well Thursday. In the $100,000 colt divisions, Super Fly (Art Stafford Jr.) is the one to beat in the trot while Jim King Jr.’s Evolution Tour (Tetrick) and George Leager’s Slick Tony (Russell Foster) drew posts one and two respectively in the colt pace.

In the filly trot, Vandalous (Callahan) racing for Chambers, Fuquay-Varina, Cinbrew and BCJM and Serendipity Stable’s Star Sapphire (Foster) put unbeaten preliminary records on-the-line.

The $100,000 filly pace showcases Darrell and Leah Lewis’ Pedal Power, Brent Outten and Green Racing’s Go Sandy Go (Jason Green) and Jeff and David Clark’s Gracefullyforgiven (Stafford Jr.)

The undercard also includes a $25,000 Open.

Dover Downs now also features a 50-cent Pick-5 wager starting with the second race through the sixth. A late daily double is carded for the 12th and 13th races.