Badlands Nitro, who ranks third among three-year-old pacers in seasonal earnings with $1.3 million, and stablemate Rudy Rednose are among the eight finalists for Sunday's $390,000 Progress Pace at Dover Downs in Delaware.
Both horses are trained and co-owned by George Teague Jr.; Badlands Nitro with John Celii and Rudy Rednose with Elmer Fannin.
The Teague tandem finished second in their respective elimination races on November 2. Dali defeated Badlands Nitro by two lengths in 1:50.1 while Proper Respect beat Rudy Rednose by a half-length in 1:52.1. For Badlands Nitro, it was his first start since finishing second to Shadow Play in the $275,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood Park on October 10. He has finished second in his last four starts. For the season, he's won nine of 16 races and finished worse than third only once.
"He's been battling (sickness) for a while," Teague said about Badlands Nitro. "Last week was his first start on Lasix, but the other horse, Dali, was huge. I just can't get him a hundred percent cleared up. If I can get him healed up we'll go to the Breeders Crown (in late November). No sense chasing them if you're not a hundred percent."
Rudy Rednose has won four of 17 races and earned $250,029 this year. He was second in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic in May at the Meadowlands Racetrack. In his Progress Pace elim, he started from post six and was eight lengths behind the leaders at the quarter-mile point. He brushed to the front by the half.
"He raced good," Teague said. "He made a big move to the front. His problem is getting off the line more than anything else."
Proper Respect has won nine of 21 races and earned $153,996 for owner Louis Tomczak Jr. of Dover. He was second by a neck to Dreams Are Real in the New Jersey Sire Stakes final on October 25 at Freehold Raceway. He has six wins and two second-place efforts among his last 10 starts.
Dali, from Canada, has won two of 15 races this season and earned $394,441 for the Uncirculated Stable. He was third in the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine, won by Badlands Nitro, at Harrah's Chester in August. He also was third in divisions of the Bluegrass and Tattersalls stakes at the Red Mile.
Here is the field in post-position order for Sunday's Progress Pace (with drivers/trainers):
1. Rudy Rednose (J. Morand/G. Teague Jr.)
2. Proper Respect (R. Pierce/C. Poliseno)
3. Moon Beam (Y. Gingras/E. Abbatiello)
4. Dali (L. Ouellette/D. Marfisi)
5. Badlands Nitro (B. Sears/G. Teague Jr.)
6. Bettor Sweet (C. Manzi/J. Poliseno)
7. Dragon King (T. Tetrick/R. Williams)
8. Riggins (G. Brennan/R. Schnittker)
(HRC)