Progress Pace elim in Grand Circuit spotlight

Harness Racing This Week: Progress Pace elimination, Bally’s Dover, Dover, Del.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit returns to Dover this Thursday (Nov. 21) for a single $35,000 elimination in the Progress Pace for 3-year-old open pacers. A field off 11 will compete for eight spots in the final slated for Nov. 27.

Complete entries for the race are available at this link.

Last time: Supplemented by his connections to the tune of $20,000, Dandy Ideal brought a three-race winning streak into Thursday’s (Nov. 14) $178,900 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers at Bally’s Dover. And the American Ideal-OK Heavenly gelding did not disappoint, making good on his owners’ risk with a lifetime best-equaling 1:50.3 victory.

Dandy Ideal and driver Tim Tetrick sprinted to a clear lead over Thirsty Thursday (Matt Kakaley) and was in complete control through early splits of :27.2 and :56. Up the backstretch, Knockout Round (Andy McCarthy) began a first-over ascent from third and offered mild pressure into Dandy Ideal to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Dandy Ideal shrugged off his outside rival off the home turn and was driven out to a 1-3/4 length win over Thirsty Thursday, giving trainer Hunter Oakes a sweep of the exacta. Knockout Round protected third after leveling off.

Dandy Ideal, a five-time winner with $137,475 in the bank, is owned by Flying A Racing Stable, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston. He paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website. For a list of 2024 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2024, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2024 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 11-14-24):

Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 1,789; 2. Yannick Gingras – 982.5; 3. David Miller – 855; 4. Scott Zeron – 748; 5. Todd McCarthy – 727.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,327; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 971; 3. Marcus Melander – 640; 4. Nancy Takter – 639; 5. Noel Daley – 439.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 311; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 255.6; 3. Determination – 237; 4. Ake Svanstedt Inc. – 207.2; 5. Caviart Farms – 162.1.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action takes place next week at The Meadowlands and Dover Downs. The Meadowlands will feature four FanDuel finals for older pacers and trotters and the Fall Four championships for 2-year-old pacers and trotters. Dover will host the Progress Pace final for 3-year-old open pacers.

by Paul Ramlow, for the Grand Circuit