by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Three of the leading contenders for the 2012 Dan Patch Award for 3-year-old colt pacer of the year will match strides in one of two $29,444 Matron eliminations this Sunday (Nov. 25) at Dover Downs.

Heston Blue Chip, trained by Linda Toscano for owner Ken Jacobs, racked up his second straight sub-1:50 performance last Sunday to win the Dover Downs signature event, the $270,000 Progress Pace. Tim Tetrick drove a 1:49 success after pacing the opening quarter in :25.2.

All Star Racing’s Bolt The Duer scored a 1:51.2 score over Yonker’s half-mile track to win the $415,820 Messenger Stake with Canadian Mark MacDonald in the bike in his last start on Nov. 10. Frank Bellino’s Pet Rock was a wire-to-wire, 1:51.4 winner of last week’s $215,000 Windy City Pace, while being chauffeured by Doug McNair.

They will face Howard Taylor, Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing’s Escape The News with Yannick Gingras; Easy Again, who drew the rail with Montrell Teague driving for Bob Feldman, Kovach Stables and George Teague; Mel Mara, owned by John Carver, Riverview Farms and Brittany Farms with Hall of Famer Ron Pierce at the controls; and Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Burke Racing’s Hillbilly Hanover with Brian Sears.

The other competitive $29,444 section boasts $1.1 million winner Thinking Out Loud, racing for Robert McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings, with Hall of Famer John Campbell at the controls; Brittany Farms and Val D’Or Farms’ Bettor’s Edge, driven by David Miller; Muscara Racing Trust’s McErlean and Tim Tetrick; Judy Welty’s Shady Breeze with Corey Callahan; Major Bombay, owned by Aaron Waxman, John Fodera, Louis Willinger and Major Bombay Partners, reined by Andy Miller; and Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables, Panhellenic Stable and Burke Racing Stable’s I’m The Pied Piper and driver Yannick Gingras.

The top four finishers in each elimination return for an estimated $250,000 final on Sunday, Dec. 2.