DOVER, Del. —-Epic Smash, drew the rail, Cicada's Song, outside post 8 in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF)Two-Year-Old Filly Trot Final and Wiggle It Jiggleit heads a nine-horse field in the Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination on Monday, Nov. 23 at Dover Downs.
In the $100,000 DSBF Final, Epic Smash, winner of last month's $100,000 Harrington final brings a four-race win streak and leaves from the rail for driver Pat Berry, trainer Traci Berry and owners Craparolla and Berry Racing.
Jane Dunavant's Ciccada's Song also boast impressive past performances. She won last week wire-to-wire and seeks to revenge her performance in the Harrington final when she broke stride and finished out-of-the-money, as odds-on favorite. Trainer Carlo Poliseno drives the six-race winner of seven career starts.
Miss Baltimore cannot be overlooked. Owned by Donald Marine with Tony Morgan. Iron Mine Branch's Chestnut Chic is the other prelim winner. Jim Morand will drive for trainer Greg Haverstick.
Three of the starters show three straight second place finishes: Winbak Farms' Triple Bottom Line with Jeff Fout driving, Stacy Stafford's Press Corp with Art Stafford Jr. in the bike, and Princess Politics racing for trainer-driver Wayne Long and Wyatt Long. Corey Callahan will drive Ron Silletto and Joe Benedetti's Unique Rosa Lene, who has consecutive third-place finishes.
Unshakeable Peace (Eddie Dennis), owned by Kathleen Hayes, Wayne Whitson and E&K Stables, and Jane Dunavant's Devlin (Poliseno) lead the $20,000 DSBF Consolation.
Nine fast three-year-olds vie in the $35,000 elimination for the eight starting positions in next Monday's $300,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace.
Heading the impressive list is $2-million winner, world champion George Teague Inc.'s Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague), who won the recent $201,900 Matron Stake at Dover Downs. Among challengers are Delaware-sired Remember Me VK (Vic Kirby), a recent 1:50.2 winner for Robin West, Ron Benton and Sharon Wyatt. Another First State-owned contender is the fast Dude's The Man (Corey Callahan) racing for M&L Of Delaware and Victoria Dickinson. Jeff Snyder's Dealt A Winner (David Miller) finished second in the Matron Final. Duane and Connie Roland start Roland N Rock (John Campbell), an eight-time winner this season. Arque Hanover (Brett Miller) has the rail for Howard Taylor, Abe Basen, Tom Lazzaro and Robert Cooper Stables. The sharp Badix Hanover (Andy Miller) owned by Richard and Dale Julich, Rodeo Romeo (Scott Zeron), racing for Bob Mondillo, Mike Day and Oompa's Farm, and Rock&Roll Stable's Americanprimetime (Tony Morfgan) complete the lineup.
Canadian speedster and local standout head a field of nine in the $21,000 Filly and Mare Winners-Over pace, the Tuesday feature race.
Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are dark days.
A $5,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 Pool is now featured daily.
Marv Bachrad