Beach Glass sparkles in $250,000 Progress Pace

It was billed as a showdown between two of the top three-year-old colt pacers in harness racing this year and the fans were given quite a show as Beach Glass (Somebeachsomewhere) won the $250,000 Progress Pace Final at Bally’s Dover Downs Wednesday, November 24.

The 12th race feature saw both race favorite Pebble Beach (Todd McCarthy) and Beach Glass (Yannick Gingras) fight from the start for control of the lead. Pebble Beach had the inside position, Beach Glass right outside and after a blazing opening quarter in :25.1, Gingras took a hold on both lines and ducked Beach Glass right behind Pebble Beach.

With the rest of the field in single file following Pebble Beach, he cut the mile to the half in :52.4. Going into the backstretch, Mad Max Hanover (Tim Tetrick) came first-over with I Did It Myway (Andy McCarthy) following second-over but by the three-quarters in 1:20.3, they were unable to gain any ground on the leaders.

At the three-quarters was when Gingras pulled Beach Glass out of the two-hole trip and came after Pebble Beach. Those two battled around the final turn and just as they started down the stretch, Beach Glass pulled away from his rival and went on to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:48.4.

Captain Cowboy (Corey Callahan) closed to be second with Fourever Boy (Dexter Dunn) third. Mad Max Hanover was fourth and Pebble Beach had faded to fifth place.

BEACH GLASS REPLAY

Away from racing for nearly four weeks in mid-October due to throat surgery, Beach Glass notched his second straight win and ninth victory on the year. He also surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings at $1,110,544 for trainer Brent MacGrath and the Schooner II Stable of Nova Scotia, Canada who bred and owner Beach Glass. He paid $4.60 to win as the second choice in the race.

“What I was most impressed with in the race,” said MacGrath. “Was at the three-quarters when he (Gingras) moved him out and he showed some pace. That is what I was most happy about in the race.”

MacGrath also revealed the plans for Beach Glass in 2023.

“We’re coming back with him next year,” MacGrath said. “We plan to be at all the dances. He should be a really good potential four-year-old.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink