Captain Crunch ($5.80) rebounded from a break in last week's Matron Stakes in a big way, pacing the fastest mile in the history of Dover Downs with a 1:47.3 score in Wednesday's (Nov. 20) $35,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination.
Captain Crunch and driver Yannick Gingras left from post five to clear U S Captain (Dexter Dunn) on approach to the first turn, and the pair traveled uncontested through splits of :26.4, :54 and 1:21.1. Off the final turn, Gingras chased after the three-year-old son of Captaintreacherous to edge away from U S Captain, and he responded with a :26.2 final quarter to cap his 1:47.3 mile, two-fifths of a second better than the previous all-age track record held jointly by Heston Blue Chip and Bandolito.
Nancy Johansson trains 12-time winner Captain Crunch for the 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, the Rojan Stables and Caviart Farms.
U S Captain held second, while American Mercury (Tyler Buter) finished third after tracking the top pair throughout.
The other five pacers to advance to next Wednesday's (Nov. 27) $335,000 Progress final are Dancin Lou, Shake That House, Semi Tough, De Los Cielos Deo and Pyro. Southwind Ozzi, who faltered on the final turn after mounting a mild first-over ascent up the backstretch, was the lone horse to be eliminated, as the scratch of Love Me Some Lou reduced the field to nine starters.
In the $25,000 Mares Open, Valuable Art ($18.80) prevailed in 1:50.4 over Moments Of Joy and Artrageous, while favourite Delishka N faded to fourth after cutting fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:23.
Corey Callahan drove the six-year-old daughter of Art Official for trainer Nick Callahan and Breakaway Racing.
(with files from the USTA and Dover Downs)
Since Captain Crunch's
Since Captain Crunch's connections have already announced their plans to stand him for breeding next year, The Progress Pace final next Wednesday will likely be the last race of the horse's career.