The red carpet was rolled out on Sunday at Dover Downs as a long list of trotting and pacing stars made their way to the Delaware oval to contest a quartet of big money stakes.
Crazed kicked things off with a dazzling performance in the $259,275 Matron Stakes final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Tim Tetrick guided the talented son of Credit Winner to the win for trainer Frank Antonacci Jr.
In Focus and Napoleon battled through speedy splits of :26.3 and :55.1 before Napoleon held up the white flag. Tetrick flipped Crazed off Napoleon's cover and went toe-to-toe with In Focus to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.3.
Crazed kicked away from the tempo-setter and the rest of the field in a sharp clocking of 1:54. Holiday Credit, who sat the pocket trip throughout the mile, rallied to finish second. In Focus held on to grab the show dough.
Crazed - Matron Colt Trot
Lindy Racing Stable, Robert Rudolph and Gary & Ellen Hoffman share ownership on Crazed, who pushed his lifetime earnings to $1,047,660 with the win.
Stage Show survived a first-over journey to take home top prize in the $252,738 Matron Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies. Dave Palone guided the Jim Campbell pupil to the 1:55.1 victory.
Muscle Shirt had the field at the quarter pole in :28 seconds and the mid-way point in :57.2 before feeling any kind of pressure. Palone applied the first-over pressure with Stage Show, who worked her way to the top at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3.
She used a :29.3 final frame to seal the deal by a comfortable margin over runner-up Creamy Mimi and third-place finisher Epangeline. Lantern Kronos, who was sent off as the 7-5 choice, trailed throughout and could only rally to finish fifth.
Stage Show - Matron Filly Trot
Arlene & Jules Siegel of New Hope, PA hold the papers on the daughter of Broadway Hall, who has put together a 9-1-2 record in 13 starts after being unraced in her rookie season. The lion's share of the purse lifted her earnings to $331,279.
Bettor Sweet used a last-to-first sweep to upset the applecart in the $390,000 final of the Progress Pace for Hall of Famer Cat Manzi and trainer Joe Poliseno. The son of Bettors Delight halted the teletimer in a career-best clocking of 1:50.
Rudy Rednose was fired up in the early going, and he sped the field to the quarter pole in :25.3. He was still up front at the mid-way point in :53.2, but race favourite Dali was out and driving. They continued their battle to the three-quarter pole in 1:21 before Dali backed away.
Rudy Rednose still held the lead at the head of the lane and even in mid-stretch before getting picked off in the closing strides by Bettor Sweet, who was sent off as a 30-1 outsider. Rudy Rednose held on gamely to finish second over stablemate/entrymate Badlands Nitro.
Bettor Sweet - Progress Pace
John Cancelliere of Clark, NJ holds the papers on Bettor Sweet, who went 0-for-2 in his freshman season while stashing away a mere $1,196. His sophomore report card includes a 6-2-2 record from 12 starts and $256,481 in earnings.
Native Bride front-stepped to a popular win in the $253,075 Matron Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies. It was the 15th score of the season for the daughter of Allamerican Native.
Brian Sears hustled the filly to the lead shortly after the quarter pole, and from there they laid down panels of :55.4 and 1:23 before kicking home in :28.2 to seal the deal. Tug River Princess rallied to finish second and Artimittateslife rounded out the top three.
Native Bride - Matron Filly Pace
Jay Sears and T H Stable LLC share ownership on the 18-time winner, who boasts $475,993 in lifetime earnings.
In a post-race interview, Brian Sears indicated the filly will likely be supplemented to the Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands.