Downbytheseaside went out a winner in his final race prior to stallion duty thanks to a front-stepping score in Thursday’s $308,060 Hap Hansen Progress Pace at Dover Downs.

Diver Chris Page moved the three-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Sprig Hanover to the lead after a :26.2 opening panel was thrown down by Blood Line. After clearing to the top Downbytheseaside zipped past the half in :54.2 and then the three-quarter pole in 1:21.1. He stormed home in :27.1 to defeat stablemate Fear The Dragon by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:48.3. Macs Jackpot rallied from last to finish third.

Brian Brown trains the star pacer for owners Joe Sbrocco, Rich Lombardo, Country Club Acres and Diamond Creek Racing. The lion’s share of the loot bumped his lifetime earnings to $2,283,068.

This was the third edition of the Hap Hansen Progress Pace, so-named. Previously, on became the track’s signature event in 1996, until adding the name of one of the sport’s leading administrators, who was a part of the late Brandywine Raceway and Dover Downs.

Russell Foster was star of the four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events. The 28-year-old Foster drove two of the winners in what was his personal biggest day in the sport.

In the DSBF freshman filly trot, Foster guided Serendipity Sable’s homebred Star Sapphire conditioned by Tui Stone to her third straight triumph with a near wire-to-wire 1:59 performance. From the first crop of Anders Bluestone-Victory Starburst, she won the $100,000 Harrington final and now has a seasonal total of $125,650. Race favourite Vandalous (Corey Callahan) finished second.

Foster returned in the $100,000 colt pace to win with Slick Tony. The pocket-sitter got up late to nip race favourite Evolution Tour (Tim Tetrick) by a nose in 1:51. George Leager, bred, owns and trains the No Spin Zone-Queen Kathy colt who has made the winner’s circle nine times in 11 starts with two second earning $151.797. Transitioning Joy (Montrell Teague) finished third after leaving from outside post 8.

In another photo finish verdict, Sky Marshall got up in the last stride for trainer Carlo Poliseno, who owns the CR Commando-Penny Lane colt with Jane Dunavant, to win the $100,000 colt trot. Super Fly (Art Stafford, Jr.) had built up a big lead turning for home, but could not hold off Sky Marshall, who won in1:56.4. He now has earned $76,000 in the DSBF stakes. Brother Kenny (Tetrick) was the third finisher.

In yet another race decided by the photo-finish camera, Go Sandy Go overtook front-pacing Pedal Power (Tetrick) in the last stride for a 1:53.4 victory in the $100,000 filly pace Final. Jason Green piloted the Roddys Bags Again-Bit Of Trick daughter for owner-breeders trainer Josh Green and Brent Outten. She has now banked $65,000 this campaign.

Bags To Riches, arguably the best Delaware-sired pacer, won the $25,000 Open pace on the undercard. David Miller steered the Roddys Bags Again-Paint The Sky Blue sophomore to his sub 1:50 performance beating Sicily (Teague) and Cajon Lightning (Gingras) home in 1:49.4.He won for the eighth time this year raising his earnings to $174,927 and $261,789 lifetime for breeder Only Money Inc and partner trainer Jason Skinner.

Just before the second race, an earthquake - said to be 4.4 magnitude - shook the racetrack.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirms that at 4:48 p.m. EST, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake occurred. The coordinates of the quake (39.2N 75.4W) put the center of the quake 10 miles northeast of Dover, in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, at a depth of eight miles.

(With files from Dover Downs)