On Saturday, three Matron Two-Year-Old divisions will be decided. The filly pacers race for a purse of $199,275; the trotting divisions race for $157,800 in the filly section and colt trotters vie for $166,800. Sunday, the 14th Progress Pace boasts a purse of $350,000 and in three Matron sophomore divisions, filly pacers race for $153,537; the filly trot $214,153 and colt trotters $253,537.

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Local horsemen are well represented in Progress Pace and Matron finals. On Saturday, Harrington-native driver Howard Parker comes in from New York tracks to drive two horses in Matron finals on Saturday. Can't Lose in Colt trot a race in which Joe and JoAnn Thomson of Winbak of Delaware start Scent Of Oil and Offbroadway DeVie in the filly final. Owners Freda Ivory and Rodney Mitchell are also represented by trotting filly Nannina. Lady Ann Christine is owned by Bob and Elberta Murray of Dagsboro and Ken Wood is a co-owner of Rockaroundthetrack, both are in the filly pace final.

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Sunday, George and Tina Dennis and Ask W Stables of Wyoming, Del. race Rapsong, in the Matron Filly Final Three of the eight starters in the Progress Pace have strong Delaware connections. Elmer Fannin, of Lincoln, and George Teague, of Houston, own Mr. Wiggles. Zee Barber is a homebred colt racing for Gary and Barbara Iles, who reside in Harrington. Carter Racing Stable of Greenville and LeBlanc Racing of Felton own Rusty's All In..

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One of this season's top rags-to-riches story concerns Go Go Solano, racing in the $350,000 Progress Pace Final Sunday. Sold to an Amish horseman in Maine for $700 dollars six months ago. The owner qualified the three-year-old in 2:04 and the next week in 1:57. He then put the colt in the Meadowlands sale and he brought $54,000. The purchaser took him to Canada where continued to improve and Richard Lombardo and Pat Rizzo privately bought Go Go Solano for around $100,000. From there he became a dominant performer in the New York Sire Stakes and finished second in his $35,000 Progress Pace elim. Heading to the final, Go Go Solano has never been farther back than second in nine lifetime starts and his won $195,748 this year.

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Tony Morgan joined the elite list of $100,000,000 money-winning drivers. The highly successful horseman who se home base is Delaware tracks' Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. Morgan is also the all-time four winningest drivers with nearly 13,000 career wins. On four occasions, Morgan won the coveted Harness Tracks of America Driver of the Year award. Last year, Morgan drove 962 wins and was leading driver at both the Dover Downs and Harrington meets. He won nearly $11-million in purse, fifth highest in 2008.

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Several new names have made the winner's circle in the early days of the current meet. Montrell Teague, whose dad is famed trainer George Teague, has been very active. Only 18, Montrell graduated from Lake Forest high school last Spring. He is sitting out this semester and plans to resume his education at Del Tech in early 2010. He'll combine school and working at the barn and driving horses. Also making their first appearances at the track are Ridge Warren, a 20-year-old who came East after being leading driver at the Thunder Ridge meet. Sean McAleese is another, arriving from Massachussetts.

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Brad Hanners, a former track driving champion, has returned after spells in Florida and Indiana. After a number of years absence, veteran John Wagner, one of Delmarva's top horsemen, is back at the track. Bret Brittingham and Kim Vincent are both off to an excellent start this meet. Several young drivers have also made an impression. Blake Baker, a 21-year-old, and Jason Lynch, 20, both began driving late last meet and show they can drive competitively.

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Popular owner Ken Wood continued his personal humanitarian project in West Africa. Wood has become a national treasure to the poor of Ghana digging wells for fresh water for natives. Wood has just returned form his 15th trip to the West African country. Under Wood's personal supervision, 450 wells have already been built. Before Wood's arrival, previously they had to walk five miles for tainted water. It is estimated that Wood has donated more than $500,000 in equipment and expertise to the project and he does not plan to end his project.

Marv BACHRAD