Two separately-owned outstanding three-year-olds – Fear The Dragon and Downbytheseaside – will lead an 11-horse field this evening (Wednesday, November 22) in the lone $35,000 elimination for the Hap Hansen Progress Pace at Dover Downs.

The card will kick off with first post at 4:30 p.m. The elim has been carded as Race 12 and is expected to head to post at roughly 8:10 p.m. The first eight finishers will qualify for next Thursday’s $300,000 final.

According to a press release from Dover Downs, trainer Brian Brown has said that Fear The Dragon trained so well a week ago that ownership paid a $25,000 supplemental fee to race in the Progress Pace.

Fear The Dragon, who ranked at the top of the Hambletonian Society / Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll for most of the summer, has drawn Post 7 for the elim and will host David Miller in the sulky. Fellow Brown trainee Downbytheseaside, who will be piloted by Chris Page, will start from Post 9 in the second tier.

A trio of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminaries will also be featured during the program.

There will be no live harness on Thursday. Dover Downs, management and horsemen join others having a Happy Thanksgiving.

The draw results for the Progress elim appear below.

(Post – Horse – Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Western Joe – Victor Kirby – 10-1
2 – Music Is Art – Corey Callahan – 6-1
3 – Normandy Beach – Tim Tetrick – 10-1
4 – Geez Joe – Marcus Miller – 8-1
5 – Blood Line – Mark MacDonald – 5-1
6 – Photobombr Hanover – Pat Berry – 8-1
7 – Fear The Dragon – David Miller – 8-5
8 – Beach Boogie – Simon Allard – 7-2
9 – Downbytheseaside – Chris Page – 9-5
10 – Macs Jackpot – Brett Miller – 5-1
11 – Santafes Coach – Ross Wolfenden – 10-1

(With files from Dover Downs)