by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Heston Blue Chip won his fourth straight and 13th of the year, going wire-to-wire in 1:49 to take the $270,000 Progress Pace on a Super Sunday program on a cool night at Dover Downs on Nov. 18.

Heston Blue Chip was a 1:49 winner in the Progress Pace.

In an awesome display, Tim Tetrick zipped off a track fastest opening panel of :25.2 to set the stage for a never-look-back 1:49 conquest in the 16th edition of the track’s signature event.

Trained by Linda Toscano, who has owned victory in many major events during November, the result was never in doubt. John Campbell driving $1 million winner Thinking Out Loud stormed home to finish second while Bettor’s Edge, who spent the last half on the outside, was third for David Miller.

Owner Ken Jacobs, who selected Heston Blue Chip as a yearling, bidding $30,000, has now collected $934,316 this year with the colt and $1,309,966 lifetime.

Somwherovrarainbow was an impressive 1:51.3 winner for Montrell Teague in the Matron.

In freshman Matron action, Somwherovrarainbow blew away her opposition to win the $160,650 filly pace with Montrell Teague in the bike for a 1:51.3 triumph, two-fifths off the track record. The daughter of 2008 Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere and 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue won for the seventh time this year in 11 starts. Owned by breeders K & R Racing and trainer George Teague, along with Ted Gewertz, the filly has now banked $527,156 this season. Live Entertainment left fast and found a spot behind Somwherovrarainbow and held on for second. U F Dragon’s Queen (David Miller) took third place.

The $165,975 colt pace was won by Twilight Bonfire with David Miller driving. The winner was bred and is owned by Robert Key. Yannick Gingras got Dedi’s Dragon away quickly and led until late in the lane, holding on for second. Sir Cary’s Z Tam, winner of last week’s elimination, saw his two-race win streak end, finishing third. Twilight Bonfire’s 1:51 is a lifetime best. The Panderosa-Firelight Dancer son ended his rookie season a winner of $257,848.

A pair of trots led off the card. Text Winner, the longshot in the select field of colts at 12-1, came on strongly with a :28.3 final quarter with Ron Pierce driving the Winnng Key homebred conditioned by Charlie Norris to a 1:56.3 victory. Early leader Sand Royal Blu, a Matron Preview winner, finished second in front of San Donato and John Campbell. Program favorite Caveat Emptor (Tim Tetrick) broke stride early and was never a factor. The winner’s half of the $159,675 gave Text Winner his biggest paycheck, raising his earnings to $101,478.

Royal Assets, piloted by Tim Tetrick, scored a career best 1:55 to win the $124,125 Matron filly trot. Trainer Ray Schnittker and Royal Assests Stable own the Donato Hanover-Habit’s Lady lass. Public choice Time To Kill was second with John Campbell driving. Ma Chere Hall teamed with Corey Callahan to end up third. Coming into the final, Royal Assests had finished second seven times with only one win. Her current bankroll is $308,494.

Fotowon photos

Guccio captured the 3-year-old colt trot in a time of 1:53.

There were three Matron 3-year-old finals. Similar to last week’s elim win, Jimmy Takter and Guccio were strongest in the stretch for a 1:53 score in the $140,439 Matron colt trot. Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding and Falkbolagen AB share ownership in the Yankee Glide-Southern Senorita colt. The win, his fourth of the season, brings his lifetime earnings to $812,233 of which $751,561 has come this campaign.

Race favorite Googoo Gaagaa finished out of the money. Driver Corey Callahan was at a loss to the way his trotter raced.

“He really didn’t have anything. It’s so unlike Googoo Gaagaa, he had no trot when we were racing on the backstretch.”

In the filly trot, Mel Hartman and Brittany Farm’s Personal Style, reined by David Miller, overtook race favorite Win Missy B, with Ron Pierce, in the closing strides to give the Yankee Glide-Foxy Victory filly win number four this year. She has now won $639,949 this season and $707,399 in her career. Cowgirl Hall was third with Tim Tetrick in the bike.

The sport’s leading trainer and stable, Ron Burke and Burke Racing Stable, came through with victory in the $123,939 Matron filly pace, as Yannick Gingras raced away to the lead behind Darena Hanover and led the rest of a 1:50.4 mile, holding off fast finishing Mary Party and Ron Pierce in a tight photo. The win was the third straight and eighth of the year for the Jugette winner, a Yankee Cruiser-Dashaway Hanover bay. Shelliscape was third with John Campbell in the bike. Darena Hanover is a $428,088 winning soph. She has won $526,802 lifetime for Burke Racing Stable.

Tim Tetrick and George Dennis had three wins apiece on the 15-race card.