by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
DOVER, Del. — It was a Perfect World finish on Sunday, Nov. 7, in each of two $35,000 Progress Pace elimination divisions as Western Terror and Timesareachinging lead the way into next Sunday’s $350,000 final at Dover Downs.
Perfect World Enterprises owns and Brett Pelling trains both Progress Pace elims winners. John Campbell streaked away from the starting gate piloting Metropolitan to a quick lead and continued to set the pace during a :26.3 opening panel and a :56.1 half mile. Brian Sears pulled Breeders Crown and Cane Pace co-winner Western Terror out of four after the clubhouse turn and proceeded to move up on the outside while Quik Pulse Mindale quick stepped into the lead just past the 1:22 three quarters and opened up a 2-length advantage with Western Terror still 5-lengths back on the outside. By the time the three-year-olds turned for home Western Terror had collared the leader and nearing the finish line pulled away for a 1-length victory in 1:50.3, a fifth of a second off the track record set by Riverboat King in the 2000 Progress Pace.
Quik Pulse Mindale, driven by Chicago standout Tony Morgan, paid back a portion of owner Lloyd Arnold’s $25,000 supplemental fee, by finishing second. Holborn Hanover, Meadowlands Pace winner, reined by George Brennan for John Fielding and Canamerica Capital Corp., closed well for third. Langfield, TLP Stable and Norm and Gerald Smiley’s Metropolitan took the final qualifying spot, finishing fifth.
Timesareachanging, the richest sophomore pacer of the year proved much the best in the second $35,000 Pace elim. Hall of Fame electee Ron Pierce eased the Cam’s Card Shark gelding into the lead after a :27 opening quarter and controlled the pace the rest of a 1:53 mile. Crombies Last Laugh, owned by Scarff, Hyatt Hodings and Canamerica Capital Corp., finished the best of the rest for John Campbell. Squaw’s Fella, driven by Brian Sears for Carol Pilger and Marland Dulaney, was third with Jerry Silva, Deena Frost and Sampson Street Stable’s All My Life, with catch driver George Brennan, was the last to qualify for next Sunday/s $350,000 final.
Earlier, Trond Smedshammer, who trained and drove Trotting Triple Crown winner Windsong’s Legacy, guided Strong Yankee Stable’s Strong Yankee to an impressive 1:57.2 wire-to-wire victory in the $54,850 Matron Two-Year-Old Colt Trot elim. Ole Bach Neilsen’s Penn Stix, handled by Ron Pierce, was second with one of two $20,000 supplemental entries, Have A Dream Stable’s Green Dot, with Dave Palone in the bike, finishing third. The first eight finishers qualify for next Sunday’s $210,000 final.
Before the first race, a pair of Billings’ regulars, both former champions, won the two Billings Series Trots for amateur drivers raced as non-wagering events. Alan Schwartz teamed with Kodiak Express to register a 2:00.2 win in the first division. Sunhill’s Alberto (Davie Offenberg) was runner-up nipping Night’s Jazz (Joe Faraldo). Paul Minore, a high school teach who was multi-Olympics gold medal winner Carl Lewis’ track coach, steered She’s A Blizzard to a 2:01.2 score in the second Billings. Chad Man (Tony Verruso) and Keytone Torre (Hunsdon) were second and third respectively.
Rainbow Blue, Kikikatie to head Matron Stakes Eliminations
Two $26,613 Matron Stakes Eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies, one featuring Horse of the Year candidate Rainbow Blue and the other boasting the presence of Kikikatie, Glowing Report, and L Dees Val, a $26,000 Delaware Special, a $26,000 Preferred pace, and an $18,000 Junior Open pace will highlight a giant Monday, November 8 program at Dover Downs. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m. (EST).
Rainbow Blue, who is Delaware owned and trained, will make her first start in the First State in the first of the two Matron Stakes Eliminations. Owned by K&K Racing and Teague, Inc., “Big Blue” sports a 17 wins in 18 races and $1,081,867 earnings already this year, including two world record equaling 1:492 miles and an impressive, 1:51 victory in the Breeders Crown Final. Ron Pierce will drive her and they will leave from post position three.
In her career the Winbak Farm-bred daughter of Artiscape has won 23 of 25 races and $1,184,541 in purses.
Haralabos Giannoulis’ Heather’s Gambit, driven by Michel Lachance, won her previous start at Freehold Raceway and Tom Stehr III’s Mojo Mama came from last to post a victory in her last race, a $40,000 Maryland Sire Stakes Final.
Mentally Stable’s Whig Party, a fashionably bred and stakes-seasoned Artsplace filly, drew the rail and will be driven by John Campbell. Paint Creek Farms’ R Burning Desire and driver Brian Sears, Fie Foe Fire, owned by Arlene and Jules Siegel and to be reined by George Brennan, and Ross Wolfenden will drive Racing Team of America’s Fairy Tale Merit and will start from the outside post position, number seven. There will only be win wagering on this race.
The $26,613 second Matron Stakes division will also have a lot of power; all of its six starters have won more than $140,000 this year. Last fall, L&L DeVisser’s Kikikatie (David Miller) won 14 of 15 and set a frosh filly track record on the way to 2-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year honors in North America. Not at her best early this fall, Kikikatie, however, seems to have returned to top form recently — and will have to be sharp when she faces Marvin Rounick’s Glowing Report (George Brennan), who had won four consecutive Grand Circuit stakes before she finished fourth in the Breeders Crown. L Dees Val (John Campbell), owned by Dumain, Kutil, and Baldachino, is a winner of seven of 10 races this year, and has only finished off the board once.
Arlene and Jules Siegel’s hard-hitting Ice Sculpture (Dave Palone) will leaves from the rail. Artbitration (Pat Berry), owned by Tom Klosky and Norm Parker, and LT’s Magic (Yannick Gingras), owned by George Muzea, Mike Cashman and trainer Bill Popfinger, will complete this elimination’s strong and select field.
A standout undercard will be led by a $26,000 Preferred pace. Elmer Fannin’s Make A Success (George Dennis), the Horse of the Meet his fall at Harrington Raceway, drew outside in a field of eight starters.
Soho (Brad Hanners), owned by Schoor Racing and Val d’Or Farms, is no stranger to the Dover Downs winner’s circle. Ashlee’s Big Guy (Tim Curtin), and Graham Grace Stable’s Instigator (Jon Roberts) will head a strong group of challengers.
Gary and Barbara Iles’ popular veteran Crew Cut Zach (Brad Hanners) will be making his first start since July; Bruce Fisher and Lindsay Green’s Jacksbrotherjoe (Jim Morand); Jeff Franklin’s Clinton Debriefed (Travis Bowman); and Carter Racing’s Fox Oshaughnessy A (Bobby Myers) are also among the eight starters in a $26,000 Delaware Special.
In an $18,000 Junior Open pace, Henry Faragalli, Jr. and Henry Faragalli III, Belle Bauman, and trainer Del Cote’s Next Flight will step out of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund ranks and will take on Nick Callahan’s Maryland-bred star Master This (Brian Sears), who has been a winner of six of eight races this year — and his last six in a row. John Hynansky and Brooks Stables’ Getaway Hall (Kevin Sizer) and Ainspan, Roberts, and Graham Grace Stable’s No Wishes (Jon Roberts) will also start.
Dover Downs has added a Pick 4 to its wagering format, and it will be featured on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races each day, and a fifth Superfecta has been added to the track’s daily, six-day-a-week, 15 race schedule. Superfectas will be offered on the third, fifth, ninth, 13th, and 15th races. Simulcasting from major harness and Thoroughbred tracks is featured daily, from noon until midnight (EST).
Again this year, Dover Downs will race on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and on Monday through Thursday, post time will be at 4:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.