Lous Pearlman Wins Progress Elim
Lous Pearlman rode the open stretch to a 1:49.2 victory in Wednesday's (Nov. 17) lone $35,000 Progress Pace elimination at Dover Downs, narrowly reaching as the 3-2 favourite and securing one of eight spots in next week's $310,000 final.
Yannick Gingras situated the Little Brown Jug winner just off the front flight through the first turn, waiting patiently while Hellabalou, Chase H Hanover and Abuckabett Hanover disputed a :26.3 first quarter. After Hellabalou cleared for control, Gingras brushed Lous Pearlman to the fore with a lap to go, only to in turn yield to Abuckabett Hanover with nine-sixteenths of the one-mile race remaining. The move to cede control of the terms likely proved the winning one for the three-year-old son of Sweet Lou, as Abuckabett Hanover faced sustained pressure from Charlie May through middle splits of :53.4 and 1:20.4 and through the far turn. Off the corner for home, Gingras dove to the open stretch with Lous Pearlman, who responded to reach by a neck. Fellow Ron Burke trainee Southwind Gendry (David Miller) stormed home down the grandstand side to finish second over Abuckabett Hanover (Andy McCarthy). Charlie May (Tony Morgan) levelled off late, but maintained fourth, only beaten three-quarters of a length.
Rockyroad Hanover, Chase H Hanover, Virgo and Hellabalou complete the octet of sophomore pacing colts and geldings who qualified for the final.
Howard Taylor shares ownership in 13-time winner Lous Pearlman with breeders Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Elizabeth Novak.
A trio of $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminary divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies served as sub-featured events on the Dover program.
Shabby Chic maintained her undefeated career record with a 7-1/4-length, 1:55.2 score over Celia and Clean Up Hitter. Tim Tetrick drove the Let It Ride Stables homebred for trainer Mike Hall. Odds On Surfer Gal (1:55.2, Corey Callahan) and Bank The Win (1:54.3, Victor Kirby) won the other divisions.
The DSBF series culminates with a $100,000 final next Wednesday (Nov. 24).
(with files from the DSBF)
I believe the Progress Pace
I believe the Progress Pace Final next week will be the first race for 3yo's in history in which every horse entered has paced a sub-1:50 mile. There have been races for older horses and older mares in which every entrant had gone sub-1:50, but never a race for 3yo's before.