Trainer Brian Brown has had plenty to celebrate this season thanks to the exploits of his gifted Glamour Boys, Downbytheseaside and Fear The Dragon, and there was more to celebrate in Wednesday’s Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination for the Ohio-based conditioner.

Brown watched Downbytheseaside cruise to an easy score over Fear The Dragon in the $35,000 affair, with Geez Joe rounding out the top three in the 11-horse tilt.

Blood Line shot to the early lead and had the field chasing him past the opening quarter in :26. Beach Boogie, who was parked past the first quarter, worked his way to the top and had the field in his rear view mirror at the mid-way point in :53.1.

Fear The Dragon came first-over on that foe, with stablemate Downbytheseaside riding cover from second over. Fear The Dragon muscled his way to the lead in the backstretch and sprinted past the three-quarter pole in 1:21.4. Downbytheseaside dug in when called on to do so by driver Chris Page, and the 1-2 favourite then used a :28.1 closing panel to win by three lengths in 1:50.1. Fear The Dragon was one-quarter of a length better than Geez Joe in the battle for the runner-up spot.

Downbytheseaside, a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Sprig Hanover, now boasts a 13-2-3 record from 21 trips to the track this season. The 21-time winner, who is owned by Country Club Acres Inc, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Racing, is closing in on $1.5 million in earnings this season. He’s stashed away more than $2.1 million to date.

Wednesday's card also featured a trio of Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund divisions for rookie trotters.

Star Sapphire captured the first of two $20,000 DSBF divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies thanks to her gate-to-wire triumph in 2:00.4 for driver Russell Foster and trainer Tui Stone.

On top through panels of :30.1, :59.3 and 1:31.1, Star Sapphire finished off the competition with a :29.3 kicker en route to the win by 2-1/2 lengths over Alpine Chic in 2:00.4. Taking home the show dough was Press Pass.

Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Star Sapphire is now a four-time winner from just eight lifetime appearances. The winner of $85,650, who is owned by Serendipity Stable of Dover, DE, is a homebred daughter of Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst.

Vandalous blew away the foes she faced in second elimination. Corey Callahan rallied her to the win by 7-1/2 lengths over Whoa Winna Now in 1:59.3. Taking home third prize was Uptown Spunk.

Nicholas Callahan trains the homebred daughter of JM Vangogh-Mocha for Chambers Racing LLC, Cinbrew Enterprises LLC and BCJM Inc. She’s won five of eight starts while banking over $63,000.

Super Fly marched to the top from Post 7 and never looked back en route to a handy score in the lone division for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Trainer/driver Art Stafford, Jr. hustled the youngster to the top and carved out panels of :29.1, :58 and 1:27.3 before using a :29.4 closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:57.2. It was 5-3/4 lengths back to runner-up Sky Marshal, with Brother Kenny a well-beaten third.

The son of Super Punk-MLT Feds, who is owned by Leigh Raymer, Stephen Moss and Stacy Johnson improved his 2017 record to 3-2-0 from six starts with the win. He’s racked up close to $45,000 in earnings along the way.