Wiggle It Jiggleit heads a nine-horse field in the Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination on Monday, Nov. 23 at Dover Downs.
Nine fast three-year-olds vie in the $35,000 elimination for the eight starting positions in next Monday’s $300,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace.
Heading the impressive list is $2 million winner, world champion Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague), who won the recent $201,900 Matron Stakes at Dover Downs for trainer Clyde Francis George Teague Jr Inc.
Among challengers are Delaware-sired Remember Me VK (Eric Goodell), a recent 1:50.2 winner for owners Robin West, Ron Benton and Sharon Wyatt. Another First State-owned contender is the fast Dudes The Man (Corey Callahan) racing for M And L Of Delaware Inc. and Victoria Dickinson. Jeff Snyder’s Dealt A Winner (David Miller) finished second in the Matron final. Duane and Connie Roland start Roland N Rock (Jim Morand), an eight-time winner this season. Arque Hanover (Tim Tetrick) has the rail for Howard Taylor, Abe Basen, Tom Lazzaro and Robert Cooper Stables LLC. Completing the lineup are the sharp Badix Hanover (John Campbell), owned by Richard and Dale Julich; Rodeo Romeo (Andy Miller), racing for Bob Mondillo, Mike Day and Oompas Farm Inc.; and Rock And Roll Stable Inc.’s Americanprimetime (Tony Morgan).
In the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Two-Year-Old Filly Trot Final, Epic Smash, winner of last month’s $100,000 Harrington final, brings a three-race win streak and leaves from the rail for driver Pat Berry, trainer Traci Berry and owner J Craparotta And P Berry.
Jane Dunavant’s Cicadas Song also boasts impressive past performances. She won last week wire-to-wire and seeks to avenge her performance in the Harrington final, when she broke stride and finished out-of-the-money, as odds-on favourite. Trainer Carlo Poliseno drives the six-race winner of seven career starts.
Miss Baltimore cannot be overlooked with Tony Morgan driving for owner Donald Marine. Iron Mine Branch LLC’s Chestnut Chic is the other prelim winner. Jim Morand will drive for trainer Greg Haverstick.
Three of the starters show three straight second-place finishes: Winbak Farms’ Triple Bottom Line with Jeff Fout driving, Stacy Stafford’s Press Corp with Art Stafford Jr. in the bike, and Princess Politics racing for trainer/driver Wayne Long and Wyatt Long. Corey Callahan will drive Ron Silletto and Joe Benedetti’s Unique Rosa Lene, who has consecutive third-place finishes.
Unshakeable Peace (Eddie Dennis), owned by Kathleen Hayes, Wayne Whitson and E&K Stables, and Jane Dunavant’s Devlin (Poliseno) lead the $20,000 DSBF Consolation.
(With files from Dover Downs)